#ruby charming

Rogers:

They all met after Hook got back from Neverland where he had been for just over a century - having reached his lowest (giving Bae to Pan) he had tried to redeem himself when he met bandit Snow, faking Prince David, and unknowing werewolf Red. He tried to distance himself from everyone and do good deeds from afar so not to hurt anyone else but fate had a different idea and he bumped into them all the time, before long they all finally realised they were all in love and formed a poly Quad.

Under the curse (not done by Regina but by someone else) they were transported to Hyperion Heights which is right next to Storybrooke. Detective Roger’s first name is Kian, he often gets it shortened to either Kee (key) or Ian (mostly because everyone kept pronouncing it differently or asking him a million questions based off of it). Once the curse breaks he keeps that name instead of Killian’s, he finally forgive himself (after over a century of making up for his past deeds and continuing to do that since) and that he wasn’t the same man who had the name Killian Jones. He takes the last name of Charming but he often gets called just Rogers like he was under the curse. 

Because he took in Alice under the curse he’s the one who understands their now growing daughter the most, and her mental health issues, despite that he wished that it hadn’t taken him so long to do it, he also totally regrets not having bonded as much with Emma and tries to make up for it but it’s hard because his baby already has so many walls. 

He and David worked together as partner detectives under the curse, he  visited the diner owned by Ruby twice a week, and spoke to Mary Margaret who he saw in the bookstore every Tuesday and Thursday night at 8pm no matter what (they were subtle like that) (until Emma came to town and it all started to change and become uncursed. He had crushes on all of them but he assumed that he was just good friends with them or desperate for human connection. 

He still has phantom pains where his hand should be, under the curse he got his new hand attachment which works almost like real hand which he keeps when the curse breaks. He only uses his hook against villains.

Ruby:

Ruby is a very logical thinking and a natural mediator, she was both a knight and a diplomat in their kingdom (as well as having the official title of princess like her husbands has the title prince). She uses these skills during the curse at her diner which lies between Storybrooke and Hyperion Heights to both run the place and the financial side and to help people in the diner solving their problems. 

She would walk around with Alice on her back in werewolf form when she was a baby until the curse fell in the Enchanted forest and couldn’t sleep, she would often find runaway near her diner in the early hours when she was starting to open it, she always took her in and made sure she had enough to eat, she did the same when Emma suddenly started to hang around with Alice. She wanted to take them in but was told she wasn’t allowed to foster either of them because she was always at the diner (plus the curse was wanting to make her feel guilty). 

She is an amazing cook and baker, when the curse breaks their home smells like baking all the time. She shares cooking duties with her spouses as they often catch up on their days while cooking. She tries to teach her daughters how to bake, she encourages 

She is a really fast runner even in human form, she uses that to her advantage as both of her girls are such fast runners and they sometimes spook and run away when they’re scared.

Because of being a werewolf she runs hot and rarely ever gets ill, but when her spouses or children get ill she has about a million different home remedies to try and help them.

Snow:

She’s a teacher in a school in Storybrooke during the curse but she lives between the city and the town, close to Ruby’s diner, they’ve been friends for as long as they can remember (because of the curse). The diner is also how they all met during the curse. When the curse breaks she stays a teacher.

She always talked to Alice at the diner but had no idea she was homeless until Rogers took her in (Alice hadn’t wanted her to know), one day she brought her a backpack with some new clothes, hygiene stuff, snacks, and puzzles because she could tell Alice needed things like that. 

She spent hours in the bookstore, becoming friends with Belle as she did, she was constantly (unknowingly) recommending books to her spouses while they were cursed. When they buy a house after the curse breaks there are bookcases full of books all around the house. 

She’s rather type A, just like Kian, she’s hyper organised which comes in positive when they are going out somewhere. She’s also very competitive, particularly when it comes to board games (she sometimes lets Alice or Emma win). 

She became Emma’s teacher in Storybrooke when Emma joined, she made sure to give Emma all the extra help she needs, she bonded a lot with her and strongly supported David fostering Emma during the curse, but felt a little jealous that she didn’t. 

David:

He was partners with Rogers under the curse and had a crush on him during it but thought it was just because they work together in what can be a high pressure environment. He also had a crush on Ruby who he talked to and jokily flirted with at the diner at least once a day, and Snow who he met in the hospital. 

He was shot the week Emma came to town. In hospital he met Snow, Emma, and Alice. Snow was volunteering there and Alice was snooping around trying to figure out what was going on. Emma was part of Snow’s class volunteering and she started to talk to him. They see each other in the diner all of the time, when he realises that she ran away from her foster home and was living on the streets with Alice and a few others, he becomes an emergency foster career and fosters Emma (while Rogers takes in ‘Tilly’)

His apartment in the city is really modern and rather big (his cursed self was pretty well off (because he wasn’t the one who Zelena mainly cared about affecting) He felt bad when he realised even the things he took for granted Emma had never had. He was much happier when they bought a slightly more homely feeling house when the curse broke (plus it meant both he and Kian could try and convince their wives to get a dog - “One that isn’t Ruby” “You’re both in the doghouse”)

After Emma moves out of Snow’s class and into a new one they find that she isn’t being helped at all and is basically ignored, they have to choose between finding a school in the city which can help her better, or David homeschooling her, or a mixture of the two.

He’s pretty athletic and is an avid runner and can even beat Ruby, he competes every year in a few marathons and races, often for charity. He lets Emma and Alice ‘train’ with him, often before they have baths and go to bed… mostly to wear them out.

Alice:

Alice was conceived when Kian had a one night stand a little while before he got into a relationship with David, Snow, and Ruby (he slept around a bit in the hopes that he would stop feeling things for his true loves). The lady tracked him down a few weeks after Alice was born and said that she didn’t want Alice and she was now his problem to “deal with however he wants”, he was not about to abandon (or worse) his daughter. He fell in love at first sight, he prepared to leave because he assumed no one would want to raise someone else's baby, but his spouses would never do that. They also fell in love straight away, Alice knows her story, and that family isn't made of blood but of love. 

Alice was nearly 5 when the curse hit and had been very excited about her mommy going to have another baby, especially when she was told the secret (that it was going to be a girl). She actually helped choose Emma’s name, out of two options (with strong hinting from Snow that Emma would be an amazing name).In the Enchanted Forest she was taught chess by her papa. She started to play chess against him again when the curse started to break when Emma came to town 6 years later. She’s really good at it and it helps her to organise her thoughts and figure out the curse to go on to break it with Emma).She was meant to go through the wardrobe with pregnant Snow but the curse fell before her Hook could get her to the nursery.She told her parents that she was going to marry a girl when she was 4, she pointed out that she was right when she got her first girlfriend.

She had been living with a neglectful couple during the curse so she ran away when she was young, she’s good at living on the street and can parkour pretty well. Emma was in a similar situation and the two found themselves drawn to each other, when Emma ran away Alice looked after her, the two were constantly together. She became a informant for Detective Weaver, which is how she initially met Rogers. She was eventually looked after by Rogers. 

When the curse broke it was rather overwhelming to fully remember her pass as well as being aware of the six nearly seven years she missed out on having her family. She broke down yelling at all of them when she didn’t think Emma was around to hear. Zelena had only cast the curse as she saw how happy Snow was when she was pregnant with Emma , and wanted to be the ruler instead. So Alice shouted (out of being overwhelmed and a little jealous) that if Emma hadn't been thought of she would never had her family stolen from her. Emma heard and ran away, Alice was the one who found her and assured that she honestly didn’t mean it, no matter what she never shouted anything like that again.

When she was a teenager she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her parents help her a lot with managing it, but she’s still getting used to it. She’s starting to notice a difference between how she feels when she’s on her medicine and when she’s off of them.

Emma:

She came to the city when she was 6 when she was fostered by Blue and George, they were emotionally and physically abusive towards her from the first night she was there, so it took her a short time to run away from there and onto the street. She became best friends with Alice and August along with a couple of other street kids.

She has autism and ADHD. She autism was the reason the people who were months away from adopting her decide that they didn’t want her - her parents pointed out that that’s not her fault and that the other people were wrong to give her back because she’s autistic. Snow (or Mary Margaret) was the first teacher to really invest in her and actually help her. 

She’s worn a hearing aid in her left ear since she was 4 and was hit by a foster mother, the same thing happened when she was in Storybrooke, only by George this time, when people had started to realise that she wasn’t living there and had run away. Tilly holy Rogers and David and they arrested George and made sure that she got checked out at the hospital. 

She’s nicknamed Koala as she’s always attached to one of her parents, particularly David, she’s a complete daddy’s girl despite claiming that she’s independent. She’s always assured that it’s okay to be a little clingy, after all her sister was the same.

Regina sat at a table nearby thecounter in Granny’s, across from her sat her four year old son Henry eatingblueberry pancakes and chattering about a movie he had seen the trailer for.But she was concentrating upon David and Ruby’s conversation, she was estrangedfrom her step daughter but she found that the distance between them and thelonger she had her son, the more she found herself wondering if she and Snowcould ever make up with one another. She and Henry finished up their foodbefore Ruby could come and top up her coffee, though her son happily went totalk to David and Ruby as Regina payed, she noted absently that the two twentyyear olds both seemed very good with kids.

 Regina’s mind was on David and Ruby’s conversation as sheand Henry walked into the pharmacy which also doubled as a local store, sheabsentmindedly responded in kind when the cashier greeted the mayor. She heldonto her little boy’s hand as they headed down the aisles, she wasn’t one toallow her child to have many sweet treats but she had promised Henry that hecould have a magazine and small bar of chocolate if he behaved while Kathrynbabysat him the night before while she was on a date. 

Her mind drifted back to the date, Robin, she had known him for a few years, hehad a two year old son, Roland, who Henry had played with at the park plenty oftimes. He also had a baby daughter, Rowan, who was six months old, he hadn’tknown about her until his ex-wife had left her on his doorstep beforedisappearing again – it had been hard to get someone to find her and have herofficially sign over her maternal rights, but Regina had supported Robinthrough it all. Regina found herself looking forward to seeing him again ratherthan trying to put it off or look at the challenges which could come about. Her son’s voice brought her out of her thoughts.

“Snow.” Henry said happily but his step sister stayed deepin her own thoughts. “Snow!” He shouted as he and Regina got up to her, hisvolume brought her out of her thoughts. “I just saw David and Ruby, can I cometo your home again, I wanna show David my new superhero toy.”

“Henry, why don’t you go pick out a bar of chocolate bar,”Regina suggested, she had noticed what was in her stepdaughter’s hand, shepointed to where the chocolate bars were at the end of the aisle, “just not toobig, okay?”

Snow breathed a sigh of relief but she looked at Henry as hewent over to the chocolate, it was March now, Henry would be five in August-

“Do they know that you’re pregnant?” Regina got straight tothe point, she knew that the way that Snow was looking at the pregnancy test inher hand meant that she already knew what the result would be, this wasn’t herfirst time buying a pack of two of those.

-And her baby would be born in September as she had gottenpregnant in January, Snow finished off her thought. “I just want to be sure.”Her voice was small when it came out of her mouth and it showed that she hadbeen alone for a long time, long before she had moved out of Regina’s mansionwhich had also been her home for sixteen years.

“Do they know?” She repeated softly.

Snow shook her head. “They’re only twenty.” She didn’t pointout that she was too, in fact her birthday on the 1st of Decemberhad been the reason for the baby’s conception. “I don’t want them to have todeal with it, what if… if they didn’t want to keep it then we would have brokenup anyway, I… I want to keep it.” Her hand fell upon her stomach as she hadstarted to do more and more.

Regina didn’t look too kindly upon David or Ruby, David inparticular after finding out that her stepdaughter was expecting, but shecouldn’t imagine either of them being anything other than over the moon aboutthis. “When are you due? Do you know?”

“The tenth of September.” She had repeated that date sooften in her head that it was always on the tip of her tongue. “I’m meant to goto my twelve week scan in just over a week.” She wasn’t sure why she wastelling Regina this, the only people who even knew were her academic adviser atcollege and her doctors, her mind went back to David and Ruby. One of her handswent into her coat pocket where the ruby engagement ring, her mother had lefther, was safe in a ring box in her pocket.

Regina may have been distant from Snow, but she knew thatSnow was not herself, this had all been so hard on her, harder than she reallyneeded it to be. Henry was quickly back at their side with a chocolate bar inhis hand and a grin on his face. Regina placed her hand on the top of his hair,she remembered when she had adopted the little baby boy when he was barely amonth old, it seemed he was growing more and more each day. She crouched downbeside him. “Do you want to choose a chocolate bar for Snow too? She’s going tobe having dinner with us and I’m sure she’ll need a bar to watch movie withyou.”

“Regina-“ Snow started, she hadn’t socialised with anyonefor weeks, she didn’t know if she was up for it.

“-I insist.” Regina said with finality. “I’ll make lasagne.”

“Come on Snow!” Henry said, happily dragging his much older stepsisteralong to the chocolate bars at the end of the aisle.

Regina smiled at her preciousson, she waited for him to convince Snow to pick a bar of chocolate and handedRegina her favourite fruit and nut one, Regina grabbed one of the pregnancytests, Snow obviously needed to see it was real still, then she walked to thecheckout to pay.

The mayor of Storybrooke strode into the sheriff’s stationwhen she knew that Sheriff Graham Hubert and his rookie David Nolan would bothbe about to head to lunch. Ruby was already there to share her lunch break withDavid, and Graham looked as though he was about to get out to go to theslightly happier atmosphere of the diner.

‘Good,’ Regina thought, ‘that will make this easier.’

Regina, or more accurately Henry, had managed to get Snow tostay at theirs late enough for it to be easy to convince Snow to let Reginagive her a lift back to her loft. Regina had never quite understood the appealof the third floor loft apartment not far from the centre of the town. It was decorated very differently to the mansion Snow had lived in beforemoving to the loft, when Leopold was alive the mansion had been full of darkwood and deep red plush fabrics, and now was all clean cut lines and black andwhite furniture with the occasional bright colours coming from Henry’s toys andpictures proudly displayed. Snow’s was certainly cosy, it was full ofcomfortable looking furniture in warm beige tones but the loft was obviously nodevoid of colour, there were cabinets which had been reclaimed as bookcases.There were about a million items which clearly belonged to David and Ruby,despite their supposed break up. She didn’t see that break up lasting verylong, but Snow was stubborn, Regina tried to tell herself not to care but shecould still see the ten year old Snow.

She had ordered a delivery of groceries to be delivered whichwould be healthier for Snow than the stuff she already had, some prenatalvitamins, and a couple of mom-to-be toiletry gift sets. She even convinced Snowto host her for lunch in a couple of days time. Which was why she was at thestation.  

“Madam Mayor?” The Irish lilt would have once (several yearsago) have made her knees go weak, they had been friends with benefits once, butshe found herself much preferring Robin’s English accent. “Is there something Ican help you with?”

She gave him a tight smile, kind but business like, sheshook her head making her bobbed hair span out from her jawline. “No thank youSheriff, I’m here to talk to Mr Nolan,” she felt rather proud that his facedrained of colour, “and Ms Lucas.”

Ruby’s hand flew to her necklace, as it normally did whenshe was worried, she glanced at David and knew wordlessly that he had no ideawhat this was about either.

“Good luck, mate.” Graham clapped his hand down on David’sback, and nodded to Ruby as he left, clearly the sheriff wasn’t going to be anyhelp.

“You two are coming with me.”

“Do we get a reason?” Ruby raised her eyebrow.

“Because I sometimes frequent Granny’s diner for breakfastwith my son and I prefer my waitresses to not be snapping and making the moodof the diner . And rookies who are heartbroken seem tend to be more uselessthan usual.” They looked at her confused and she rolled her eyes. “You two aregoing to speak to Snow until you all get back together.”

“She doesn’t want to see us.” David’s voice sounded just asheartbroken as Ruby suddenly looked.

Regina sighed gently and shookher head. “Idiots.” She said just loud enough for the pair to hear, then headedout of the station. Luckily Ruby and David followed her, she thought it was agood remark to head out on, and it would have been embarrassing having to headback in and convince them.

 Snow opened the door when she heard Regina’s only toofamiliar knock. “I made soup, not it’s not poisonous, but you seemed to buy allthe vegetables in Storybrooke, so I thought you should have to-“ She trailedoff when she saw who was with Regina for the first time. She took a fewslightly stumbling steps back into the loft allowing David, Regina, and Ruby towalk in.

“You need to tell them, you’re all being idiots, even if youweren’t they deserve to know.” Regina told Snow in a tone which was somehowboth firmly and lovingly. It was a very parental way of saying it, sherealised, the same way she would ask Henry to tell her if her was injuredbecause he had been doing something she had told him not to do because it wasdangerous. “I won’t listen, I’ll go and save the soup while you talk, if youstill want them out I’ll make sure they leave you alone.”

Snow nodded but her eyes were on David and Ruby, who werewatching her in kind, it was as though she was having a dream. She had neverthought she would see them in her loft again. She figured she most likely wouldhave to legally deal with David, but most likely Ruby also, with the baby beinghis. She could tell that the breakup had been incredibly hard on both of them.But she had convinced herself that it would be for the best, she was doubtingthat decision now, especially with them looking at her with loving concern.

“Why did you break up with us?” Ruby’s quiet voice rang outas clear as a bell.

“I…” She trailed off trying not to cry. This was why shehadn’t done it this way, it hurt so much to see them heart broken, she justwanted them all to hold onto one another, from now until forever.

“Did we do something?” David’s voice scratched his throat ashe too fought off tears. “Can we fix it? If you really don’t want to be with uswe’ll leave alone, but just explain it to us, please Snow.”

That sounded good, if they could just wave a magic wand andfix everything, but she had to put the baby first… she wasn’t quite sure howshe had convinced herself that her partners wouldn’t want anything to do withtheir child (yes, Ruby might not have a biological claim, but she was certainlythere for the conception so in Snow’s mind she was just as much a parent asDavid)… now she saw them with her own eyes she was doubting her originalchoice. “Let me show you both something.” She decided it was all or nothing.

She led the way to the bathroom.

David and Ruby followed her, their confusion grew as she ledthem to the bathroom, with anyone else they might have lost their tempers butthey trusted Snow despite their recent hurt.

Snow opened up one of the drawers she had found herselfopening more and more, to remind herself that everything was real, though sinceshe had told Regina it had started to seem even more real.

Ruby stared at the drawer as she processed what the littlesticks were. Then her hand flew to her mouth. “You’re…?” She asked full ofhope. Her eyes were watering.

“You’re what?” David asked, a little slower to catch on, hepicked one up and looked at Snow and Ruby who both had tears in their eyes. Hedidn’t read the stick as he was so concerned about his girls. “Snow, what’swrong? Are you sick? Is it serious?” He asked worried about Ruby and Snow’sreactions, but his mind was starting to slowly turn the gears, but Snow toldhim before it could quite click.

“I’m pregnant.” It was the first time she had actually toldanyone that, Regina didn’t have to be told, and her doctor and college adviserdidn’t count. She mustered up enough courage to look up into Ruby and David’seyes. She immediately knew that they were over the moon, both the green andblue eyes were now on her stomach, but she could see the tears in her eyes.

“Oh, Frosty,” Ruby used her old nickname and placed her handon either one of Snow’s cheeks, “why didn’t you tell us?”

“I didn’t think that you’d both want to suddenly be stuck herewith me, this is what this baby will do, we always talked about going andliving in a city, adventuring and staying awake all night… I didn’t want tohold you both back.”

David and Ruby shared a look, they were overjoyed about thenews of the baby, but their hearts hurt when they found out that Snow had feltshe had to take this on by herself.

“Hey,” David said gently taking hold of one of Snow’s handswhile Ruby did the same thing to the other hand, “this is the best news I’veever been given.”

“Same.” Ruby agreed wholeheartedly. “And a baby is the bestadventure I can think of. We do this like we always do everything.”

“Together.” David finished pulling them all into a hug. Hesmirked. “Anyway, I think we’ll be staying awake all night with a baby, now.”

For the first time, he saw Snow crack a smile, and soon theywere all laughing. Eventually they all forced themselves out of the tightembrace and out of the bathroom. Snow thanked Regina, and told her thateverything was going to be okay now, she didn’t have to play bouncer for her.

“Call me. Please.” Regina said as she opened the door readyto walk out of the door.

It was such a motherly request that it should have beencompletely out of place, but the pair were a sort of mother and daughter, Snownodded. “Thank you.”

“Thank you.” David echoed, stilla little in shock at the fact he was going to be a father, he was alreadyplanning on how to propose to his partners, without making it appear as thoughhe was only doing it because Snow was pregnant.

“For everything.” Ruby agreed,she had heard Snow saying about all the vegetables Regina had forced upon herstepdaughter when Snow was opening the door, she was a little surprised at howclose the pair had grown, but it seemed to have done Snow a lot of good.

Over the next week Ruby, Snow, and David went back to normal,all just as in love as they had always been. Ruby and David started to leave moreand more of their stuff in Snow’s loft, Snow asked if they would both move inby Wednesday, they were there all the time anyway and the three would be equalparents to their baby.

Ruby and David sat alongside their girlfriend at her twelveweek scan, watching in wonder as the ultrasound of their baby appeared on thescreen, and they were given printouts which they kept staring at especially asthey tried to come up with names.

He checked the time on his cell phone, realising that the boys would be getting back home within the next couple of hours from soccer and swimming clubs (after they finished at school) before either Snow or Ruby would be back, so he texted them telling them not to come thundering in as Emma was sick and asleep. He immediately received two responses on the little group chat between the three of them, he should probably have chastised them for both texting  while in their classes but he couldn’t bring himself to do so, instead he quickly assured them that they didn’t need to rush home, they could just arrived home at their usual time.

Next he scrolled through his phone until he reached the number for Granny’s diner, knowing that Ruby would most likely have her phone on silent no matter if she was working on the books of the place or was waitressing, the landline was a sure fire way of being able to talk to her. He smiled as he heard Granny’s automatic greeting for the diner, he said hello back and politely asked to speak to Ruby, feeling relieved when he was passed over straight away instead of stuck talking to his wife’s grandmother, perhaps his worry over Emma was showing in his voice.

“Hey babe, what’s up?” Ruby greeted breezily.

“Hey Rubes, you wanna bring take out home? From Granny’s or Chinese from Top Wok? I could ring it in and you could pick it up.”

Ruby laughed a little, David was usually the one to cook when both she and Snow were working late, she figured that her husband was just being lazy. ”Let me guess, you and Em are too absolved in watching Peppa Pig to pick something out?”

David frowned, and looked over at the screen which he hadn’t realised was still playing the cartoon, he groaned as he flicked it over to an episode of Cake Boss, knowing that it was appropriate should Emma wake up. “Nah, she’s zonked out.”

“Still?” Ruby frowned and her head shot over to look at the clock thinking it must be earlier than it was if Emma was still asleep.

“She’s not feeling too good.” David explained, he could practically see her in the diner twirling the cord around her finger and frowning at the clock. “She’s got a fever, she says that her head hurts, and pretty much everything else – oh, and she’s not eating, I just about managed to get a bottle of PediaSure and medicine into her before she fell back asleep.”

Ruby’s heart broke for her youngest baby. “Do you want me to come home early?”

David looked down at Emma cuddled in his arms before he gently shook his head. “Nah, we’re okay here, she’s just sleepy and cuddly, I’ll probably be able to change her diaper and into a onesie without her even waking, there’s no need for you to rush.”

Ruby sighed, she debated insisting on going on but one of the waitresses had called in sick and the next shift wouldn’t be starting until she was leaving anyway. Plus she was now tasked with not only picking up her wife from work, on the way home, but picking up dinner… still, Chinese take out did sound good… “Do you want me to text Snow and let her know?” She grimaced at the thought. “Would she worry more if she knew, before she left work, or would she kill us for not telling her?”

On the other side of town David grimaced in sync. “She’ll probably be both, but she has a couple of meetings with parents, right?” He heard her agreeing that she had. “Then, I’d rather wait ‘til you pick her up, at least then she gets a little warning but she doesn’t sit there worrying as she’s tryna sit through the meetings.”

Ruby hummed in agreement. “If I’m having to tell her, you can order me some duck spring rolls.”

David smiled, he’d order some fried wontons for his other wife too, he knew she wouldn’t be best pleased, but if there was a way he thought that Snow or Ruby could help their daughter any more than he already was doing, then they’d already be there. “Sounds like a fair deal to me, I’ll call it in for you to pick up on your way home, the boys should be back the same time as you.”

“Okay, hun.” Ruby stared at the clock, already counting down the hours, even more so than usual. “Ring me if you need me home early, or anything else, promise?”

“Cross my heart.”

Over the next few days Emma continued to act as she had been, mostly she seemed sleepy and would spend her time cuddling up to her parents, refusing to be out of their arms for longer than ten seconds. Although she was usual close to her brothers she would only talk or even pay any attention to them, if she was already sat with one of her parents.

Ruby was sat with Emma cuddled but asleep on her, her head was resting on her chest, and Ruby was gently stroking her hair. She checked down to make sure that she really was asleep a couple of times before she waved over at Neal, who was sat reading with headphones in, to get his attention.

“What’s wrong mama?” He asked placing his book down on the arm of the chair making sure that he wasn’t about to lose his place.

“I just need to go to the toilet can you sit with Emma cuddled up on you?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth Neal was already nodding his head. “I’m scared that if I put her down on the couch she’d going to wake up.” She stood up with Emma still cuddled close and walked over to Neal as he sat waiting for Emma to be placed into his arms. She did so slowly so Emma wasn’t about to wake up.

Emma stirred a little but settled as Neal pulled her blanket closer around her.

Ruby pressed a soft kiss to the top of her blonde curls. She stood up a little more and brushed her hand through Neal’s hair.

“Mama.” Neal half scoffed half whined, quietly so that he wouldn’t wake Emma.

Ruby rolled her eyes, he was at that age where he was concerned about his hair being perfectly styled, god forbid someone messed it up. “When you were Emmy’s age, you were only calmed to sleep if I stroked your hair, you were always wanting one of us to play with it – well, mainly me, but that’s ‘cause I’m the best.”

“Yeah, but now I’m eighteen years old, not eighteen months.” Neal smirked, his hand automatically went through his hair, but he remembered being six and worried about starting in 1st grade and his mama running her hand through his hair when his three parents dropped him off at the school together before all going to work, it had calmed him then and it still did now… when he let her do so.

“You’ll always be my baby, your mom and dad feel the same,” she watched him look as though he was about to make a protest but she just smiled and started to move out of the room before calling back over her shoulder, “you don’t get a choice in it.”

Neal shook his head as his mother walked from the room, but he couldn’t shake the smile from his face, sure his parents were embarrassing but he could never doubt how much they loved him, his siblings, and each other.

He looked down at his little sister with love, like the rest of his family he hated the fact Emma was feeling so ill, especially as nothing he could do – Emma barely cared to have her favourite books read to her which their parents always assured him wasn’t his fault, it still hurt, he and Emma were usually rather close, it sucked not to be. He brushed his hand over her brow as she slept, it was warm but not so hot that it signified that it was time to try and coerce her into taking more medicine.

He thought nothing of it when he noticed a spot on her face, but frowned when he saw another couple on her forehead, he was trying to see if Emma had just scratched herself when he heard his mom, dad, and brother all entering the house, his mother and father headed toward the kitchen while his brother skidded into the living room.

Tyler wasn’t surprised that his brother was in practically the same position in one of the arm chairs in the living room than when they had left him, Ruby, and Emma to go get some groceries. He had been about to throw the packet of skittles David and Snow had picked up for Neal at his brother’s face, his usual delivery method, when he noticed that he had Emma in his arms. So, instead, the teen walked over and nicely handed the pack to him. He sat on the arm of the armchair near their sister’s head and joined in looking down at her. “She’s gonna be okay, right?” His blue eyes flickered to his brother’s ones. He and his brother had the usual brother relationship where they were able to piss each other off to no end, but only because they were close and loved each other, and Tyler still looked to his brother as the smartest person he knew.

Neal’s eyes met Tyler’s, he could tell how worried the middle Charming was over the youngest, Tyler wore his heart on his sleeve, he was so very like their mom. Neal sent him the charming smile they had all inherited from their father. “Of course, you know she always gets ill ‘cause her immune system sucks, anyway if something was really up mom, mama, and dad would be more worried.”

Tyler let out a somewhat shaky breath as he nodded his head, he knew he was being silly, but he had to make sure or he’d drive himself mad.

Neal’s eyes returned to Emma’s red marked face. “Hey, Ty?” He waited to hear his brother’s verbal acknowledgement before carrying on speaking. “Do these look like spots or scratches?”

Tyler peered closely at them. “Erm, spots?... Shit, there’s more on her scalp.”

Neal didn’t bother to say anything about Tyler’s choice in words, the boys were careful not to swear in front of their parents or little sister, but they didn’t bother to refrain themselves around each other. Instead he simply looked closely at her scalp and frowned, it wasn’t hard to see the bright red spots through Emma’s almost white hair, but only if one was looking.

Neal and Tyler were still staring at Emma’s head with worry as all three of their parents’ voices drew closer.

Ruby, David, and Snow all looked puzzled but amused as they came across their sons looking as though their baby’s head was the magna carta.

“What’s so interesting guys?” David asked quietly, chuckling a little as the boys jumped and looked up, he looked over at Emma too unsure as to what they were looking at from his place on the other side of the room.

“Em’s got some spots on her face, and on her head, I think she’s getting more and more…”

Ruby, Snow, and David’s amused looks disappeared at Neal’s words and they stepped closer to their three kids. Snow carefully slipped Emma from Neal’s arms and sat on the couch, Ruby and David sat on either side of her as she cradled Emma.

Ruby was sat near her head and staring intently at the spots on her head. “Theses weren’t there before, or at least I didn’t see them, how didn’t I see them?”

“They probably subtly appeared.” David soothed. They all had a shared inkling about what the spots and illness was, he was starting to wonder if the spots had been there while he was watching Emma, could they have figured out that Emma had these before? “Does she have them anywhere else?”

Snow gently lifted up Emma’s pyjama top but they couldn’t lift up her bodysuit vest, it made Emma stir and start to wake up, Snow tried to rock her back to sleep but Emma’s eyes popped open. “Sorry baby, we didn’t mean to wake you up, did you have a good sleepies?” She smiled as Emma twisted in her arms so that she could cuddle close to her and moved her head close to her sleepily. “I’m sorry we woke you up, can mommy, mama, and daddy just quickly check something?”

“Why?” Emma asked rubbing her eyes.

“It’s okay, sweets, nothing you need to worry about.” Snow soothed knowing that Emma wasn’t really aware of what was going on. She just carefully manoeuvred the toddler as Ruby and David worked together to get Emma’s pyjamas and vest off. They all gasped as they saw that Emma’s body was covered in red spots.

“What the-?“ Tyler managed to cut himself off quickly.

“Is that chicken pox?” Neal asked at the same time.

“Yeah.” Snow was the first one to recover from the shock, as Emma started to tug at her top clearly wanting to be fed, she covered Emma in a blanket to keep her warm as she fed her. “It’s okay, baby, you’re okay.” She shared a look with her husband and wife as Emma latched on and started to drink.

The parents tried not to give away the worry in their faces.

Neal caught on. “You guys know how to cure this… right?”

Ruby spluttered as though she was offended by the insinuation. “Of… course… Of course we know how to help chicken pox!” She leant back beside Snow and wrapped her arm around her as she stroked Emma’s curls.

“Yeah, of course we do!” David agreed acting just as insulted as much Ruby, he tried to go through his mind to remember how they dealt with it with the boys, as he thought he filled in the silence. “Neal caught it when he was five, then of course he past it onto you Tyler, we dealt with a five year old and a three year old with it while all three of us worked. And you’re both still around.”

“Exactly.” Snow agreed but she was trying to remember the logistics of the illness and how to help just as hard as her spouses. “Anyway, it’s probably not going to get much worse than it is now, neither of yours did.”

Emma, it turned out, did not have a mild case of chicken pox like her brothers had had, in fact she seemed to have the opposite, she had spots growing on spots on spots – understandably she was miserable.

David was mostly sat up, he had several pillows behind him and blankets wrapped around him, he had Emma cuddled on his chest, she couldn’t sleep unless someone was sat up with her, she screamed blue murder and David had had to go with her on a drive until she fell back asleep. Snow was leaning against him while Ruby had her head in her lap, Snow’s hand weaving through her long dark hair as she held an iPad above her head.

“Okay, apparently this might work-“

“According to whom?” Snow interrupted.

“…’Mumsnet’…”

Snow laughed quietly at Ruby’s admittance. “Didn’t you used to call them ‘stuck up bitches whose kids are going to turn to drugs to escape their interfering mothers and absent fathers?’”

“Yeah?” David smirked. “Wasn’t this before you said that you were never, ever, going on it again because they insulted a post you put on there mentioning us being a throuple?” He saw her glare up at him and he widened his eyes to show he meant no harm by his reminder. “Not that we blame you, babe, they were idiots and you were right, as always.”

They knew of course that that was an unfair judgement of all of the mothers on the site, and Ruby didn’t really mean what she had said (if only for their kids’ sake rather than the mothers), but Ruby had been rightly hurt, they had too, but Ruby had received it first hand.

Snow leant down and pressed a gently kiss to her lips as an apology, Ruby clearly accepted as she responded, Snow pulled back and cuddled back up to David and resumed stroking Ruby’s hair. “So, any suggestions?” She sighed glancing at Emma. “I will literally take any at all.”

­­“Yeah this one has a list: ‘Homemade soup. Lettuce leaves down her nappy, this site’s British so I assume they mean diaper... A lot of medicine.… And eye of newt and toe of frog…?”

“That’s from Macbeth.” Snow snatched the iPad from her wife’s hands. “Did you notice all the question marks after this? Or that it’s the first one? …Or the sarcasm? You’ve got to know that this isn’t being serious Rubes.”

Ruby turned red and mumbled. “Well… I… In my defence the girl I had tutoring me in lit class was really attractive…we kind of didn’t get past the ‘Macbeth was written by Shakespeare’ before we started to get distracted.” She said fluttering her eyelashes up at her wife and husband.  “… We only got more distracted when this really hot guy moved to our school...”

“As sweet as that is…” She leaned down and pressed a kiss to her wife’s lips as David laughed in the way they had learned to do so not to wake Emma. “…You’re so just trying to distract us from the fact that you were this close to trying to use amphibian body parts to help our one and a half year old baby.”

“You did say you’d take any suggestions.” David pointed out in defence of their wife.

“I’m not stretching to witchcraft just yet.”

“So... we’re not thinking about calling your stepmom just yet?”

She playfully hit his chest. “I dare you to say that to Regina’s face.”

“I’m not that brave.”

Ruby giggled looking back up at her husband. “Our Prince Charming.”

David rolled his eyes at the joke about his last name, one that had often been made often, both in good and bad ways. “You seriously think that we could get Emma to have lettuce in her diaper? She refuses to eat anything green unless it’s candy or a popsicle… Do we just like empty one of your salads into it?”

“D’you think it’d be better for her with other veggies?”

“Dressing or no dressing?”

“Didn’t we do like an oat bath or something for the boys when they were kids?” Snow tried to move the conversation back on track from her spouses joking, she knew that Emma would probably wake soon, she was hoping to make it at least a little better as soon as possible.

“What like a tub full of porridge?”

“We could try convince her to eat breakfast in there too, two birds one stone.” Ruby shrugged.

Snow laughed before she frowned as she tried to remember. “I… don’t think so? I mean… that doesn’t sound quite right… does it?”

David smiled at down at her. “You’re adorable when you frown.” He pulled her into a kiss.

“’Am not.” She pouted.

“The cutest.” Ruby agreed with a teasing smile.

Snow couldn’t hide her smile at the pair so tried to shrug it off with a roll of her eyes. “We should get sleep before our little Koala wakes needing me, she’ll probably crying, poor love.” She looked sympathetically over at her daughter. Emma was usually quiet but since getting ill she’d woken crying, Snow had started to quickly give Emma medicine before feeding her. She had tried to do so without her waking her spouses up too, but Ruby and David wouldn’t hear it, they didn’t expect or want Snow to have to deal with it on her own - they dealt with Emma being sick the same way that they did everything, together.

“You sure you don’t wanna ask your mom for help?” David asked quietly as the bedside lamp was turned off but before any of them had dropped off.

“No.” Snow said resolutely.

David pressed a kiss to the top of Snow’s head. “Sweetheart, this isn’t the same as when Ty or Nee were babies, it’s not like we’re barely adults who have no idea how to do this parenting thing, with Regina judging our ability to make sure that they don’t end up in care or messed up beyond belief... And our relationship with Regina is different, Robin and Marian really mellowed her out along with the kids, and she doesn’t hate me...” He could feel the amused look his wives were given him even in the dark. “… Okay, maybe she doesn’t hate me quite so much as she used to.”

“You did steal her step daughter’s ‘virtue’.” Ruby tried to sound serious but didn’t succeed very well especially when Snow playfully shoved her.

“Just… Just how much virtue did Snow have left to lose?” He let out a heavy breath of laughter when Snow playfully hit his chest.

“That’s a fair point.” Ruby felt Snow kick her under the covers. “I’m just saying…. We live in Maine… there’s a lot of Snow which needs to be ploughed.”

“We’re moving.”

“Uh huh.”

“Somewhere hot.”

“Where it never snows.”

“Night night Snowy.”

“Night Frosty.”

“I hate you both….” She said though it was clear that she meant the opposite.

“Sure.”

“Understandable.”

There were a few minutes of silence, if Snow didn’t know her spouses so well, she would have assumed that they were asleep. “If Emma’s still sick in a few days we can call Regina… I just don’t want to feel like, like, I need her for every little thing… I’m thirty eight and I feel as though I need her a crap ton more than I did when I was eighteen.” She sighed knowing what they were all thinking.

“Things are a lot different than they were when you were eighteen.” Ruby nuzzled against Snow’s shoulder lovingly. “You haven’t only just realised what your dad was like, and Regina isn’t taking it out on you or making a tense atmosphere.”

“It’s okay to need her, I know she’s not your birth mom, but she’s been your mom for years - she loves you, she’s not trying to outsmart you or outdo you..” David agreed. “She likes you going to her for advice, and as much as I hate it she does give good advice, but we’ll only let her know if and when you’re ready.”

“Just… Just… give me a couple of days? If we haven’t found a natural or medicine remedy… or divine intervention… then we can ask her.” She felt her heart swell at understanding both of her spouses had for her, she also knew that they would all put Emma first, she’d put her pride aside if need be. 

“As much time as you need.” David kissed the top of her head before kissing Emma’s head too.

“We won’t mention a word to Regina.” Ruby kissed her cheek. “Or Marian, or Robin… who’d ever have thought that we have this many in-laws.” She joked.

They all had different ways of trying to distract Emma from being sick and to stop her from scratching.

Mostly David, Snow, and Ruby would just cuddle up with Emma – they would watch cartoons, movies, sing lullabies, or read her stories. They kept coercing her into eating, and filling her with medicine and kept trying to find things which would help, it wasn’t working but it had only been a day and a half so Snow was still waiting for a miracle.

“Are you guys sure that you can watch her for a couple of hours?” Ruby stressed twiddling with her keys in her hand as she looked down at the three kids sat on the couch, Emma was sat between the two boys eating dry cheerios from a little bowl. “Your mom won’t be back from that meeting ‘til lunch but your dad should be back from getting groceries and a couple of other things in just under two hours.” She checked her watch and realised that it would probably be the same time. “Or I can just call Granny and tell her that she has to call around a few more people or I’ll just hold off going until your dad or mom get back.“

“Mama-“ Neal tried.

“Or I could call your Grandpa, Nana, and Grandma? I mean they don’t know that Emma’s ill, because your mom hasn’t told Regina, so of course we couldn’t mention it to Robin and Marian or they’ll have to tell her-“

“Mama-” Tyler tried this time but Ruby just kept going.

“But I can call them! They have like a million kids, well five, but still, they have enough to be able to look after a baby with chicken pox for a couple of hours…. your mom will get over Regina knowing… after some convincing… and grovelling….”

Neal and Tyler shared a look. “Mama!” They said at the same time finally gaining Ruby’s attention.

“We totally have this mama.”

“Yeah,” Neal agreed trying to show how sensible he was through his voice, “we’ve babysat Emmy loads, haven’t we Koala?”

Emma looked up at Neal then Ruby, she tilted her head to the side, she tried to scratch her face but it was near impossible to do so in the mittens she had on, as were most things. ”You goin’?”

Ruby bit her lip. “Yeah, pup, or I can stay here with you if you like?”

“Or you can stay with me and Ty Ty?” Neal said excitedly trying to convince Emma.

“Yeah, we can have lots of fun and do all different things? We’re much more fun than mama.” Tyler encouraged, shooting a charming smile over to his mama, though she didn’t seem to notice his joking insult.

Emma lifted her hand up towards Ruby and started to wave. “Bye bye mama.”

“Wow, that cuts.” Ruby said dramatically. “Okay… but only if you’re all sure… it’ll just be a couple of hours, just watch a movie, Em will probably drop off… just nothing inappropriate on in case she wakes up and decides to start swearing or something.”

“Yup.”

“And you have my number, and Granny’s, and your dad’s, and your mom’s, and the school’s in case your mom doesn’t pick up, and your Grandma’s – but only if it’s an emergency!”

“We know.”

“It might be best calling your Nana or Grandpa, oh the paediatrician’s number’s on the fridge, but if it’s a real emergency just call 911.”

“What’s 911?” Tyler joked knowing his mother was going overboard. “I know! Mama! I know what it’s for, just a joke, jeez.” He said quickly before Ruby could freak out or worry.

“Okay, okay, I get it – none of my kids want me.” She watched the boys roll their eyes at her and Emma continue to wave clearly not understanding why Ruby was still there when she had already said she was going out. “Okay, okay, I’m going… just watch a movie, you don’t have to do anything else… Thank you so much, both of you, for this favour.”

Eventually they managed to get Ruby out of the house, Tyler went back into the room where Emma was sat on Neal’s lap. The boys shared a look they hadn’t been planning on just sitting there quietly, they were going to cheer up their little sister. They quickly made a big fort and grabbed paints, toys, play dough, stories, toys and various other things. They were sure that it’d be fine, better than fine, it’d be great.

Marian had run into Ruby at Granny’s shortly before Ruby had managed to get off, Ruby had tried to keep mum about everything but Marian had seen Snow at the meeting at the school (which Snow was still stuck at) and seen how off and worried she seemed. Marian may not have seemed it, but she could be scary when she wanted to be, Ruby eventually spilled about how bad Emma’s chicken pox were and that they weren’t sure what to do. Marian, being one of Emma’s grandmothers and caring for all of the family, insisted on going to help – even promising to keep it quiet from Regina, even if she didn’t strictly approve of that, nor like lying to her wife.

Robin had run into a similar predicament when he had run into David at the store, he saw how worried his son in law was and noticed the groceries he had and put two and two together. Like Marian he insisted on going and helping, when he got into David’s car he realised that they weren’t sure how to help Emma judging by the fact David appeared to have bought the entire stock of every type of medicine from the pharmacy. Before David would drive anywhere he made Robin promise not to tell Regina.

Regina was on the other side of town, not amused, not in the slightest. She had tried calling and texting her step-daughter on several occasions over the past week, she was largely being ignored, with only enough (closed off) responses for her to know that Snow wasn’t dead and that the kids were ‘fine’. But Regina had been a mother for long enough, now, to know when something was up and that she was going to get nowhere simply hoping that she would suddenly be told everything. So she decided to drive over to the house

As luck would have it, all six of the adults arrived at the house at the same time, Snow saw her step-mother and turned as pale as her name suggested. Ruby, David, Marian, and Robin all looked sheepish, Regina could tell that something was being kept from her from their looks, but she was fairly certain it was something new to the pair of them as they were terrible liars and she would have been able to wheedle it out of them had they been alone.

They heard Emma’s crying through the closed doors and windows.

Snow had no choice but to let them all in.

The living room was in chaos, there were blankets, cushions, and toys everywhere. Furniture was everywhere out of place, the couch upturned, with Tyler standing on it looking worried. The dog ran to greet them with different colours of paint dried on his fur. And Neal stood holding Emma looking like he was about to have a breakdown, as Emma screamed in his arms with fat tears rolling down her splotchy cheeks, some of her spots were weeping, and Snow quickly dropped her bag and ran to take Emma into her arms.

“What on earth is going on here?” Regina raised her eyebrow as she asked them all, she didn’t need to be told by anyone that Emma had chicken pox, that much was obvious. Nor did she really have to be told that Tyler and Neal had volunteered to look after her, they were responsible and did so often enough. What she really meant was- why did she have to go around to their house after getting her texts and calls repeatedly ignored by David, Ruby, and Snow to find out that she was this sick?

Snow cuddled Emma to her chest rocking her as she calmed Emma, but she didn’t speak, neither did her spouses, they figured it was best to follow suit of their wife.

“We… We didn’t mean to make this mess, we were just trying to help Emmy.”

“We know Ty, it’s okay –“ David said. He spared a look at Snow who had her eyes firmly on Emma as she rocked her in her arms, she was clearly trying to ignore the fact that her stepmother or her step-step-parents were all there.

“-We were just trying to do something fun for Emma, and she hated having the gloves on and we tried to stop her from scratching but we didn’t want to hurt her or anything – and then she seemed to feel even sicker so we were trying to cheer her up with different toys and didn’t have time to clean up.”

“Neal.” Regina said firmly but kindly. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault. Now, why don’t you boys go get changed, then you can help your parents and grandparents tidy up in here? “ It was clear that the question wasn’t a suggestion. “Your mom and I will bathe Emma. Won’t we, Snow?”  

“Re-“ She saw the look Regina was giving her, and sighed, she bit her lip still avoiding looking at her again. “Right.”

Snow took Emma upstairs to the big family bathroom as Regina headed around the house to grab different things.

“It’s okay, baby, you’re going to have a nice splashy bath. I’m sorry, Emmy, I’m sorry for leaving you.”

Regina entered the bathroom with a pair of tights Ruby had given her, filled with oats, and some bicarbonate of soda. She hung the tight from the tap as it ran and added the bicarb.

“These should help her feel less itchy. I’ve sent Robin to the store to pick up some other bits.” Her voice was quiet and cold. “Marian and Ruby are putting together some lunch while the rest of the boys tidy.”

The bath time was otherwise silent, with Regina and Snow only talking to Emma, not each other.

“Is it really that bad?” Regina asked eventually making Snow look at her. “Asking me to help with my grandkids? Or for advice? Am I really that bad a stepmother that you can’t even tell me that my only granddaughter is sick or to ask me for a little bit of help?”

“I, I, I just…” She wasn’t sure how to word her thoughts especially when she heard that Regina sounded hurt. She sighed. “It’s just, you’ve raised five kids, perfectly. You always know exactly what is up with them and how to help them – you’re the mom who knows every single way to get them well or feeling better… and I can’t, I can’t even remember how we helped the boys. I rang the paediatrician and they said that she should be okay but if she gets worse to take her in, but I don’t know if she’s bad enough to, and I don’t want to be that neurotic mom. I’m nearly forty and I feel as though I have no idea how to help my baby, I feel like I’m failing as a parent.”

Regina didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes. “Six.”

“What?”

“Six kids. I didn’t have you, but I’ve been your mom since you were ten, I will never replace Eva but you’re still mine, too, I raised you.” It wasn’t often that they just talked like that but it had to be said. “You were ten, and I was twenty, I was barely an adult… Then you got chicken pox and I had absolutely no idea how to help you. I didn’t have a mother to turn to, I mean you’ve met her a couple of times I didn’t want her to be a major part in your life she’s not exactly a loving grandmother type, and your father was always away on ‘business’ so he wasn’t exactly a big help.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Regina insisted. “I just… I went to the library and researched as much as I could about different ways to help you, with the rest of the kids it was easier because I had Robin and Marian and they knew loads more ways that their parents had told them… I wish that I had known them when you were a kid, I wouldn’t have been so bitter, and they would have made good step… well, step-step­ parents for you… But there’s nothing that I can do to change that. Once you had Neal, and we became a family again, I promised myself that I’d be there for you, in the way that Cora never was for me. You’re an amazing mother, you’re not failing, and it’s not failing to ask for help when you need or want it. I’m here for you, so are Robin and Marian, all you need to do is ask.”

Snow bit her lip again with tears in her eyes as she looked down at Emma.

Emma chose that moment to look up at her mother and realise that something was up. “Grandma! Mommy’s sad!” She shouted alarmed.

“It’s okay sweetheart.” She wrapped an arm around Snow’s shoulders as she spoke. “Your mommy’s just a little tired, I don’t think she’s been getting enough sleep while you’ve been poorly, I think you and she are going to take a nap when you’re out of the bath and we’ve put some magic cream on you.”

“Mommy too?”

“You want mommy to put the cream on too?” Snow asked and received a nod from Emma who was looking very sleepy now, but for once wasn’t trying to scratch the spots. “Okay, Emmy, sure.”

“And I’ll be here when you wake up from your nap,” although she sounded as though she was talking to Emma her words were for both girls, “we’ll get your cousins around and we can all have a movie day together.”

“It better be.” Tyler commented stroking their golden Labrador, Bailey, before grabbing a glass of orange juice. “Today’s the only weekend I’ve not got soccer practice and Cassie and Zac have both been dragged to the woods to ‘learn some survival skills’... they’re either gonna end up not talking to their dad or they'll be dead.”

“More fool Fredrick.” David chuckled, plating up the pancakes for the rest of his family, making sure to give the right ones to the right people.

“Yeah, and I’m not stuck with studying for one weekend.”

“That's cause you’ve already done enough to graduate, it’s time to just relax now and let all those college offers roll in, have a bit of fun before you heartlessly abandon us...” Ruby had a twinkle in her eye as she cut up Emma’s pancakes into bite-sized pieces. She placed them on Emma’s highchair 

Neal rolled his eyes but he knew his parents supported whichever school he wanted to go to, they often went on road trips to visit different colleges with him, they always made it into fun family vacations with things for both of his siblings to enjoy. “I was just thinking of reading a book, maybe playing some video games, Gid’s grounded so he’s not gonna be able to hang out.”

“Are you sure Nee wasn't adopted?” Tyler joked.

“Ty!” Emma shouted over to her brother distracting he and Neal from their breakfast ribbing. “Look! Pant-cakes!” She showed him a piece of her chocolate chip pancakes, she and Tyler were the only ones to have that type.

Tyler gasped over exaggeratedly, as though she had shown him something amazing and shocking. “Wow! Oh my god, look Emmy!” He stabbed a piece of pancake from his own plate and showed it to her before putting it into his mouth. “I have some too.”

“Don’t talk with your mouthful.“ Snow ruffled his hair before sighing contently as she took a long sip of her coffee. “What do you think Emmy, you wanna try walking today?” She asked with excitement, digging into her own blueberry pancakes. 

“Mommy, look choccy pant-cakes.” Emma told her mom, making them laugh.

Snow tried not to look disappointed, she didn’t want to be pushy, but she knew Emma was ready to walk she was just waiting until she felt like it. Though of course a walking toddler would get into even more trouble, and Emma already had a proclivity for getting into trouble - they had left her in her playpen for four minutes and come back to find Emma out of the playpen with the dog now multicoloured from the child-safe chalk, which they all swore were up higher.

“You already got mama first from her,” Snow pouted at her wife from next to her, she leant close to her trying to look both pathetic and flirty, “and Neal walk to you first... you should help me get her to walk to me first.”

Ruby’s eyes twinkled. “And why would I do that?”

“I could make it worth your while.” Snow said quietly, but not quietly enough to not traumatise Neal and Tyler, who both groaned and protested that they had been put off their breakfast. 

“Hmm... Tempting... But no, you got Ty saying mommy first-”

“-Rubes-”

“- And he walked to you first. He barely let go of you for the first like year of his life.”

“Mommy’s boy.” Neal teased his brother as he finished up his breakfast and poured another coffee.

But the parents were oblivious to the boys’ squabble as they were drawn into their own small one, their competitive streaks coming into play over whom would get their youngest and last child to walk to them first. 

Later that evening the family were all gathered in the living room. Neal had a book open in his hand, his only movements were to change the position he was sat in, or to turn the page. Tyler had just finished catching up on some homework, with some help from Snow, and was now playing video games against Ruby. Snow was leaning against David on the huge couch, and had been since he finished bathing Emma a short while before, they were both drawn between watching Ruby and Tyler’s game and watching Emma play with her toys on the floor as she began winding down for bed.

Emma pulled herself to her feet, so that she was standing up perfectly balanced in the middle of the room staring at her family. 

Her family all took notice straight away. Neal lead his book down, facing downwards, so he wouldn't lose his place then leant forward in his seat. Tyler threw the pause button and he and Ruby placed the controllers down. David and Snow both though to the same method, they scrambled for Emma’s favourite teddy bear she took everywhere with her from the coffee table, David was a fraction of a second quicker and won.

“Hey Koala,” David smiled at her and placed her teddy so it was sat upon his shoulder, “look what I have, Ted-Ted, you wanna walk to Daddy and get him back?”

Emma looked at him to Snow beside him. 

“Hey, Sweetie Pie, you want to come to Mommy?” She held out her arms towards Emma but like the others she stayed where she was sat, Emma needed to be the one who came to them, not the other way around.

Emma shook her head, she was still looking confused as to what to do, she looked to Ruby.

Ruby gave her her wicked and slightly wolfish smile. “Do you want to come to Mama, Pup?” She watched as Emma looked as though she was debating it before she inevitably shook her head again.

Neal bit his lip trying not to smile, he didn't realise but Tyler was doing the same, at the idea that he could be the one Emma walked to before their parents who had been competing over it since Emma started sitting up. “You wanna hear a story, kiddo? I’ll tell you one of your favourite ones, Uncle Henry’s, from the special story book... all you gotta do is walk over to me.” 

“Come on, Emmy, you wanna annoy mama, mommy, and daddy?” Tyler smirked. “This will really annoy them, and I know you like trying to wind them up.” He tried to coax. Emma giggled but looked away yet again. 

After a couple more seconds Emma took her first unaided steps, having chosen her direction. Her family watched a little confused but in awe of Emma taking her first steps, toward whom they were not certain until Emma shouted. 

“Bailey!” The toddler threw her arms around the big, loveable Labrador, who had been just as protective over Emma since Snow was pregnant with her, as the rest of her family. She hugged the dog tight as he licked her face, careful not to get too excited in case Emma got hurt. She heard her family laugh at who Emma walked to first. Emma looked around at them in confusion. Until she spotted her teddy still perched on David’s shoulder.

“Daddy! My Ted-Ted!” She told him. She turned around where she stood, she tumbled over but quickly pulled herself back up. She took a couple of unsteady steps, before taking a couple more, soon she wasn't focusing on her steps but upon the teddy David had. She started to stumble but she fell straight into David’s waiting arms.

David scooped her up and into the air, making her squeal with laughter, before he cuddled her close to his chest. “My clever little girl! You’re getting so, so, big my little Koala!” True to her nickname Emma held tightly onto him. He may not have been the first family member she had walked to, but he was the first human member of the family she had walked to, which was enough in his book.

Snow leant forward with a beaming smile and kissed her daughter, before Ruby leant over her shoulder doing the same, they may not have gotten Emma to walk to them first but they were all overjoyed that she was doing so well, especially compared to the tiny 4lb baby born two months early. 

David leant forward and kissed Snow tenderly on the lips before doing the same thing to Ruby. It seemed silly to say, but they were relieved overtime that Emma reached an important step in life, each time she did it was like they were one step further out of danger. The boys must have felt the same way as for once they didn't complain about their parents kissing. 

“Hey, I guess we’re all equal now,” David smiled, “we each got one kid walking to us first and saying our names first.” 

“One, two, three!” 

“That’s my very clever girl, Emma.” Snow praised as they walked down the hospital corridor after having seen the doctor. Emma had now stopped crying after being given her vaccinations, Emma decided to half skip-half run down the corridor, in the sight of her parents.“You do have three stickers. Sweetie, come hold my hand please or one of us will carry you, it’s going to be busier in a minute we don't want to lose you.”

“You could distract Snow, and I’ll find a red felt tip, we’ll claim Emma has the chickenpox.” David suggested quietly, coming up with another plan like they had been while they had been waiting for Emma’s appointment (Ruby out of bored and David out of a genuine need for a plan), but not quietly enough that his other wife didn't hear. 

“David.” Snow turned on him, with Emma in her arms, looking stern. “You are not lying to Regina to get her not to come.”

“...Snow-”

“-No. I know you two don't always get along, especially when you have to spend several hours together when none of the kids are ill or there’s not a family event of some form, and I appreciate it, I do - I know she’s hard on you even if she doesn't really mean it. But we’ve not seen Henry for a while, and he’s only going to visit us less now that he’s settled down in Seattle, and next year Neal will be gone, he’ll be hours away. How long until we all get to just meet up for a meal again?”

Emma looked up at them with apt attention. “Uncle Henry?”

David felt bad all of a sudden, he knew that family was important to all of them especially Snow, it was only when Neal was born that she and Regina had become close after almost a decade. “Yeah, kiddo, we’re gonna see uncle Henry, uncle Henry’s girlfriend, grandpa, and grandma.” He leant down and tenderly and lovingly kissed Snow. “I’m sorry, Snow.”

Snow placed her hand onto David’s chest. “It’s okay, you know she doesn't really hate you, right? She just... acts like she does...”

“Sure...” David said dubiously before he laughed and took Emma from Snow’s arms. “You want to ride on my shoulders to the car?” He asked, he knew she wouldn't be quite as happy when the shots came into full effect, so he wanted her to be happy for as long as possible. 

“Daddy horsey.” Emma said holding onto his hair as David carefully kept hold of her on his shoulders. 

Ruby and Snow both laughed as Davidstarted to gallop down the corridor clearly not caring about what anyone would think of him. Ruby slipped her hand through Snow’s andpulled her into a kiss, before they resumed walking, Ruby swinging their joinedhands. 

“What’re you thinking?” Snow asked knowing full well that her wife was startingto plan something in her mind.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Rubysmirked.

Snow rolled her eyes and pulled theirhands up to her lips to kiss Ruby’s. “What’re you thinking?” She asked again.

“Well, I know that the kids love ourtrips away from the town, the further away the better, but maybe we should go somewherenew… and, well, we always wanted to go to England, maybe we could go to London forspring break.” It was a trip they had talked about since the three of them had gotten together as teenagers, then Snow had fallen pregnant, and there had just never seemed to be a right time.

Snow beamed and stopped in thedoorway leading outside where David and Emma were, she gave Ruby another kiss,this time a lingering one. It was hard for all of them, getting used to thefact that Neal would be leaving them in under a year, it only became moreapparent when Henry had chosen to settle on the other side of the country, hewas only five years older than Neal.“Have I told you that I love you?”

“Not yet today.” Ruby couldn’t resistkissing her again, she could still taste some fruit tea Snow must have dranknot too long before they had picked her up from the school, her lips were assoft as they had been when they had first fallen in love as mere teenagers. “ButI’m sure you can make up for that.”

“Neal!” David called through as he and his wives moved around the kitchen putting together the meal and desserts, Emma was balanced on his hip clinging onto him, the shots side effects starting - really it would have been better if either the shots or the meal had been a different day, but such was life. 

His eldest son appeared in the kitchen doorway. Freshly showered after his swim practice and changed into a turquoise shirt which brought out the brightest blue hues of his irises, he had already dried and styled his hair so that there were no hints of any of the curls which had been present in his wet hair, yet he continued to run his hand through his dark locks to make sure it was sitting right. ”What’s up, dad?”

“Can you quickly get your little sister changed while me and your moms sort out dinner? I know Ty’s in the shower so he can watch her while we all get changed.”

“Sure.” Neal shrugged. “Hey, Emmy, let’s go get you changed.” Neal went to take Emma but she squirmed away and held tighter to David. 

“No! Want daddy.”

David sighed and kissed her head. “Sweetie, I promise I’ll hold you again as soon as we’re all changed.” He felt her hold even tighter and just whine in response. “You can wear your Dino onesie, I’m sure Uncle Henry would love to see that, you can show him how you can roar really loudly.”

Snow caught sight of Emma’s face and knew she was close to crying or a tantrum, but that wasn't her fault, she walked over and kissed Emma’s forehead. She sent a look to Ruby who nodded and grabbed the baby medicine from the cupboard, she, too, kissed the top of Emma’s head as she passed it over. 

“Okay, baby, you can stay with daddy.” Snow soothed, measuring out the syringe of medicine for Emma, and getting it ready to give to her daughter. “You’re a little warm, sweetie, open up please, it’s the cherry one.”

Luckily Emma had decided not to refuse to take it and just opened her mouth. She still pulled a face at the medicine but didn't spit it out which was a plus. “Stay daddy?” Emma asked them quietly.

“Yes, you can stay with daddy,” Snow said without pause, “he’ll get you changed into your onesie, you’ll be comfiest in that.” She had planned for Emma  to wear something bit smarter than that but her toddler’s comfort came first. “Neal, can you help in here, please?” 

“Sure.” Neal shrugged as David carried Emma out of the room, he rolled up his sleeves and wandered over to the kitchen counters where delicious food had been made or was in the process of being made. “Erm, mom, mama? You guys realise that it’s only us, Grandma, Grandpa, Henry and Ella... right?” 

Ruby smirked, she had clearly already had this conversation, she looked amused as Snow gave her polished answer.

“It gives us variety, it’s kind of like a potluck/ banquet style,” Snow answered as she opened the oven to check on the lemon roasted chicken with its chorizo stuffing, “there’s meat and vegetarian options and starters, a couple of mains, and desserts.”

“Ah... so you’re planning on scaring her off by over feeding her?” He joked looking at the desserts, which David had made during Emma’s morning nap, he had to admit that they looked just as delicious as the whole house smelt.

Ruby snorted with laughter. “Yup.” she said at the same time that Snow said -

“You are so like your father... and your mother.”

Neal just shot her a charming smile but didn't deny the allegations, nor did Ruby, they all knew that they three kids were three perfect mixes of the three parents. “What’d you need mom?” 

Snow looked at the mess of pots around the kitchen. “Erm... can you please put the desserts into the refrigerator, then take the carrots off the heat, drain them then add a knob of butter to them, thanks honey.”

Ruby took hold of Snow’s hands when she saw how frantic her wife was looking. 

“Rubes? What’s wrong? I need to -”

“Snow.” Ruby said firmly gaining her attention. “It’s all okay, she’s going to love us, it’s not how it used to be like when we were younger, and there’s no way Henry would end up with someone bigoted, and he especially wouldn't let her around the kids.”

Snow took a shaky breath and nodded her head. She knew she was being a little silly, but she remembered what it was like when polyamory was only just becoming accepted, she remembered the fear of having to come out as both bisexual and in a polyamorous relationship, and watching the loves of her life having to do the same. She watched David’s step-father decide it was enough to fully and completely disown him, influencing David’s twin in becoming estranged from him at the same time, David’s mother fully accepted them and was happy for David, but she had died shortly after their wedding. Granny hadn’t really minded, she could tell that they were in love, but when her mother had decided to suddenly make an appearance in Ruby’s life she had tried to force Ruby to choose between them - she had blamed Snow for Ruby’s choice, they hadn't seen her since either. Snow supposed it was good that Regina had accepted their relationship, not that they had really been close before then plus she kind of hated David for a while there, but she knew full well that her father would never have approved of any of it. “I know. I just...”

Ruby placed her hands on Snow’s cheeks, green eyes looking into green eyes, a shared past and struggles. “I know.” Snow’s hands came up to hold onto hers against her face. “It’s all been worth it though, right?”

Snow smiled full of love for her wife. There wasn't a single thing they’d change, they all had each other and their children, the price was worth it. “Of course.” She pulled Ruby down to quickly kiss her. 

“Eww.” 

Ruby and Snow broke apart as Tyler came skidding into the kitchen dressed in a similar outfit to Neal, just his shirt was a darker denim with a t-shirt underneath, and complained immediately. “Mama, I’m hungr-” He started to whine before he spotted the sheer amount of food in the kitchen. “You know that Matty and Kai are still on that geography trip... right? Are Rowan and Roland coming as well?”

Ruby watched Snow bite her lip, as she looked at the food, and Neal laugh as he sorted out the carrots. She tried not to smirk for her wife’s sake. “Well, you definitely won't still be hungry after a three course meal.” She simply pointed out to their younger son as David walked back in with Emma in his arms, the pair changed into clean clothes, Emma into a dinosaur onesie and David into a deep blue shirt and slacks. “But first you can come with me to pick up some wine.”

“Sure,” Ty quickly threw on his trademark leather jacket he was almost never seen without, “so long as I’m not having to help cook, at least that way I cant be blamed for anything going wrong.”

“Beer please.” David called as Ruby said bye to Snow, he leant down to peck her on the lips when she went over to him. 

“No class.” Ruby teased knowing that neither he or Robin drank wine if they could avoid it.

“This coming from someone who likes a drink which tastes like vinegar.” He winked. 

Ruby just rolled her eyes and gave Emma a kiss goodbye. “I’ll be back soon baby.” She promised before calling over to their first born. “Bye Nee.”

“See ya mama.” Neal called back over, as he leant against the counter, now texting his friends.

David wrapped his spare arm around Snow, who leant against him, Emma rested her face against her mom’s. 

“I went a little overboard.” Snow admitted quietly. 

“So we’ll just have some leftovers,” David shrugged his shoulders showing that it wasn't a big deal, “we’ll go on a picnic with the kids with some of it, though the boys will probably have eaten it by tomorrow morning.” 

Snow smiled at David’s talent of making her feel at ease. She gently moved Emma’s head away from her and onto David’s shoulder, so she could kiss her husband. “I love you.”

David’s mouth smiled against hers. “I love you more.” 

“Love you mommy.” 

Snow giggled at Emma feeling the need to join in. “And I love you, my brave, brave, baby.” Snow nuzzled her nose against hers. “Mommy’s going to go put on a pretty dress-”

“Red.”

Snow smiled Emma didn't know the names of too many colours so it was a fairly high chance out of all the colours Emma could have chosen it would have been that one. “Okay, I’ll wear a red one. Do you want to come with me or are you going to help daddy and Nealy?”

“I help.” 

“Aw.” Snow let slip out, Emma’s certain tone and look was adorable on a toddler so young, especially with Emma’s now red little face and blankie clutched in her hand. “Okay Emmy, you help, I’ll see you in a minute.”

Soon Snow was dressed in a classic red dress. As Emma drank her sippy cup, and ‘supervised’ Neal and David setting the table, Ruby and Tyler returned with the drinks which they put in fridge to chill, before Ruby went to change into a shirt the same shade as Snow’s dress and black leather pants.

Soon enough the doorbell rang, Emma was still being clingy but with a little more energy than she had before thanks to the medicine working its magic. Snow shot up to answer the door, Tyler quickly followed her with Neal trailing behind trying to look unbothered. Emma’s head shot up towards the doorway as she heard voices, she pointed towards the doorway and the source of the noise as she, David, and Ruby stayed on the couch. “Daddy? Doooor.” 

Ruby and David laughed as she dragged out the word as the boys usually did when they were trying to get other people to answer the door. “I know, Koala, mommy’s got it.”

Emma nodded her head before looking at Ruby. “Mama, mommy’s door.” 

Ruby smiled at her daughter’s need to inform her that Snow had gotten the door, she thought it was sweet Emma’s insistence to make sure no one was left out, of activities or knowledge. She was also pretty sure Emma had forgotten who was coming around. “Maybe it’s a tiger coming to dinner.” She teased.

“No mama.” Emma giggled, her nose wrinkled up as she did so, suddenly her eyes widened and her laughing smile changed to her surprised but bright one. “Grandma! Grandpa!” She shouted happily, she scrambled to stand up on David’s lap.

“Careful, sweetheart, we don't want you to fall off your daddy’s lap.” She scooped her and shot David a glare as she cuddled Emma close to her chest. 

“It’s lovely to see you too Regina.” David rolled his eyes.

Ruby sniggered and moved out of the room to go say hi to Henry before Emma saw him, Emma hadn't seen Henry in a while and they weren't sure if she’d be unsure of him or immediately become attached to him.

Robin bit his lip trying not to laugh, he had been married to Regina for thirteen years, and with her for four years before that, yet he still thought that the twos digs at each other were hilarious, especially as they had proved time and time again that they would go out of their way for each other. “Hey Dave.” He grinned as David clasped his hand and shook it.

“Hey Robin.” He watched as his kinda-step-father-in-law’s eyes flicked to the doorway leading to the kitchen. “Don't worry, Rubes got us some beer.” He chuckled as Robin looked relieved.

“Hey there, dinosaur.” Robin took Emma from Regina and grinned down at her. “Have you seen my granddaughter? Her name is Emma, she has wild lion hair, and she gives the best cuddles.” It was a little weird being a grandfather to Snow’s kids, especially as Neal and Tyler were around the age of his own kids, but he loved them all, they were his family. 

Emma pulled down the hood so he could clearly see her face and hair. “Boo!”

Regina took in Emma’s little red, hot, cheeks as Robin pretended to be surprised. “Is she ill?” She asked David, her voice and look was sharp with concern for her granddaughter. 

David shook his head, that was one similarity they shared, their protectiveness over the kids. “Nah, she had some vaccinations, she seems to get the side effects worse than the boys ever did.”

Emma was twisting back towards David to go into his arms when she caught sight of someone coming into the room, it was only then that remembered who she had been told was coming to visit. “Uncle Henry!” Emma shouted, as always her ‘r’s came out sounding like ‘w’s, she started wiggling in Robin’s arms as she tried to get to Henry.

Henry beamed, he had feared that she wouldn't have remembered him from last Easter, she was only very young after all. He strode over and took her from his step father’s arms, as soon as she was in his arms she cuddled close and he rocked her a little as he held her. 

“Emmy, David, this is Ella.” He introduced his girlfriend to the last two Charmings, as he had to the rest of them in the hallway, with great pride in his voice and love in his eyes.  

“Nice to meet you, finally, Henry won't stop going on about you.” David smiled as he tried to tease Henry.

Ella looked proud. “It’s nice to meet you too, you have a lovely home.”

“Auntie Ella?” Emma asked confused.

Henry and Ella shared an alarmed look and both scrambled for an answer, though luckily for them, neither David nor Robin noticed their worry but Regina did, though she was kind enough not to question them just yet. 

David just smiled and shook his head kindly at his daughter. “No, Emmy, that’s mommy, mama, and daddy’s friend, Uncle Henry’s girlfriend’s called Ella too. Two Ellas.”

“Two auntie Ellas?” 

David just chuckled and shrugged “Eh, close enough.” 

“Hello Emma, it’s very nice to meet you, your uncle Henry’s been telling me all about you.”

“I’m not Emmy.” Emma told her seriously as the rest of the family rejoined them in the lounge. “I’m a dinosaur.”

Emma smiled as her whole family laughed at her seriousness, though she didn't take on that that was the reason for their laughter, she just like having them all around. “Grandma!”

“Yes dear?”

“You have dinosaur friends.”

“Do I now?” She smiled back at the toddler, not noticing David suddenly grimacing and sliding down in his chair to try and hide behind Snow. 

“Yup!” Emma popped the p of the word as she decided to squeeze to sit between Ella and Henry. “Daddy told me.” 

“Oh did he now?” Regina glared at David as everyone else, particularly Robin, started to laugh. 

“I, er,” He rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to explain, “we, were, er playing around?” 

Regina rolled her eyes, she tapped Robin’s chest with a playful glare to stop him from laughing quite so hard, though it didn't have much effect. The family all eventually settled into comfortable conversations before they moved through to the kitchen to settle down to eat.

Towards the end of the appetisers Emma started to become a little whiny again, and they knew that if she was simply left in her highchair she’d only become worse. 

“Do you want to sit with me, Em?” Henry offered with a kind smile, he had missed his little niece.

“Nooooo.” Emma whined making Henry’s face fall, “Daddy.” She whined looking at David, with a pout, who was already getting up to take her.

“I wouldn't worry about it Henry,” Ruby grinned, “she’s always choosing David over me and Snow, too.” 

David smiled proudly down at his daughter as he sat back down in his chair and passed her her sippy cup. “My girlie.” He kissed the top of her head before resuming his own meal. “You can sit on my lap to eat, Emmy.” He assured her as the empty plates were cleared away by Ruby, Snow, and Neal. 

Ruby went to pick up one of the dishes to take over to the table when Snow shot her a look telling her to sit back down. She could tell she was a little worried again, Ruby didn't blame her there seemed to be a lot of secretive glances between Henry and Ella, more so than usual lovey-dovey ones. There was something going on, they had been through enough to be slightly frazzled around these sorts of things, even if the chances of Ella being against their relationship dwindled the longer they spent in her otherwise pleasant company. “Here, Snow, let me help.”

“Nope,” She shook her head at her step brother, “you’re the guest, sit down.”

“And you cooked all this,” Henry argued, “it’s the least I can do.”

Snow stared him out as Robin stood up and walked over. 

Henry tipped his head back dramatically before he sat back in his place with a sigh. 

“And that’s where Neal gets it from.” Ruby murmured quietly to David.

“Thanks, Robin, I can take it from here.” Snow said.

Robin levelled her with a look, he may only be a decade older than Snow, but over the years he had become a slightly paternal figure in Snow’s life. “It’s okay, I can help, from the look you gave Ruby I’m pretty sure that you’re not going to let her help.” 

“You’re a guest too.” Snow argued but Robin just gave her another look. She rolled her eyes dramatically as Robin picked up a couple of the platters. 

“And there’s Ty.” David murmured back to Ruby, who snorted some of her wine out of her nose, the picture of sophistication.

Regina rolled her eyes at her son-and-daughter-in-law, but there was a hint of a smile, ‘Idiots’ she thought fondly. She too could see the characteristics of her son and daughter in her grandsons.

At the end of dessert, Henry tapped his clean spoon on his wine glass to get everyones attention, he got it, he also gave his niece inspiration as she tried to reach David’s glass. “Sorry.” He smiled sheepishly as David quickly moved it and quickly distracted her with more chocolate dessert.

Everyone looked at him with curiosity, even Neal and Tyler seemed to take a particular interest in what Henry’s next words would be, he sent a warm smile to Snow. “Thank you so much for the meal, well meals...” He smirked good-naturedly knowing that they had only eaten a small percentage of all of the different dishes, but he understood Snow well enough to know why, family was important to her beyond anything else and she just wanted it to be perfect, and it was. “It’s been amazing being able to visit.” Ella added with a smile. “Thank you so much.”

Henry nodded, and gave her a knowing smile, as though they were waiting for something which they knew was inevitable.

“But we’re not just here to see you all. We have some news we’d like to share... a week ago I asked Ella to marry me.” 

“And I said yes.”

“Damn.” Neal said before anyone else spoke.

“Told you, now pay up.” Tyler grinned holding his hand out to receive the $10 from Neal’s wallet. 

“You bet I’d be engaged?” Henry asked amused.

“It was either that or you would have gotten hitched in Vegas.” Neal shrugged handing the money over. 

“I tried to tell him that grandma would have killed you if she hadn't gotten an invite.” Tyler said proudly.

“Too right I would.” Regina said completely seriously, making everyone laugh, there were tears in her eyes, she had adopted Henry when he was a couple of months old but now he was most certainly a grown man. She pulled Ella into a hug as Snow hugged Henry. “Congratulations.” She told her genuinely. 

Snow released Henry and hugged Ella. “Welcome to the crazy family.” She joked as the room filled with excited talk and everyone saying congratulations, or in Emma’s case trying to.

“’Lation, ‘lation, ‘lation!” Emma copied as Henry cuddled her tight and the toddler let Ella do the same to her, she had no idea what was going on, but whatever it was it got her excited.

“This calls for a celebration!” David decided. He walked to the fridge and pulled out two bottle of champagne. 

“You just happened to have two bottle of champagne in your fridge?” Regina rose her eyebrow at him.

“What can I say, we’re just that classy.” He didn't mention that it was an accidental purchase when he was meant to be buying wine the other day, while trying to shop with Emma babbling a mile a minute and being clingy, Regina didn't need to know everything.

After they finished off desert, and the bottles of champagne, they moved back to the lounge. Neal and Tyler set up the games console and started to try teach Robin how to play the game, with a little teasing from Henry. 

Ruby, Snow, and David revealed the spring break trip plans to the kids, the boys were over the moon and Emma was just happy to join in with the excited cheering, Regina and Robin quickly talked it over with the trio and the plans were amended so they would all be going over together, 

Regina and Snow talked to Ella about weddings, while Ruby and David were only really interested in learning about her in general (they were still avoiding talk of weddings after the hassle of the planning of their own nineteen years before). 

Ella was interested in learning all about how the various couples met. She shared details of her own relationship with her stepmother and stepsisters and how nice it was to see from Henry’s family that they’re not all like that (Regina and Snow shared a smile at that, a lot had changed since Snow was a teenager and the two couldn't be in the same house, to the extent Snow had spent a lot of nights at Ruby’s her ‘really good friend’). Ruby and David shared with her their own terrible relationships with parents or step-parents, and that David wasn't even sure where his twin brother was.

Regina remembered her own abusive relationship with her mother, Cora, and how she had vowed to be nothing like her. While Snow remembered the show her father made of his relationships in public, but the fact they were as fake as his ‘nice’ personality were. But neither woman spoke of those aloud.

Henry took time to catch up with his nephews and nieces, learning about the hassle of applying to colleges Neal had gone through, and how soccer was going for Tyler, and he read stories from the book he had written to Emma.

And Emma spent most of the time going between all of the members of her family, cuddling them, or telling them stories, or getting them to play with her toys with her. Ella took a shine to the toddler which made everyone even happier to know that Ella would be joining their family. Memories were shared, drinks drank, photographs shown and stories remembered. 

Ella found herself becoming more and more fond of the town, simply by spending time with that family and hearing their stories, she was beginning to wonder if Henry would ever want for them to move from Seattle to Storybrooke, she thought she’d be okay if he did.

“I think we’re going to have a visitor in our bed tonight.” Ruby said quietly, she passed Snow a wine glass full of sparkling flavoured water, with her own glass of wine in hand she wrapped herself around Snow, sitting sideways on the couch both facing David and sleeping Emma. The two boys had gone to bed but the adults had yet to take Emma up, they knew she’d wake soon, and want feeding as she always did.

“Don’t we always?” Snow stroked some of Emma’s hair from her face, she leant back against her wife in her embrace, as Ruby passed their husband a cold bottle of Coca-cola (he wasn't one to drink too much, he knew its effects). She had a point, Emma usually slept in their bed with them either half way through the night or from the get-go. “It seems like only yesterday we used to spend most nights being kicked by Neal and Tyler in bed.”

“And now we have to kick them out of their beds if we want them up before midday.” Ruby said fondly. 

“Y’know Henry and Regina have always had a close relationship,” David mused hopefully, “maybe Regina will lay off me a little bit in favour of focusing on Ella...”

Ruby and Snow burst out into laughter, just about quiet enough not to wake Emma, but for long enough it gave David the answer to his musings. 

“Sorry, dear, I think you’re the only in-law she’s going to be hating.”

“I knew she hated me.” David pouted, but Snow kissed the pout from his lips, he figured having a monster-in-law was a small price to pay for having her perfect step-daughter as one of his two amazing wives.