No Sound Without Silence

Chapter 3

"He tore off the steering wheel and started running around with it in his hands!"

Laughter filled the room. The loudest one was, of course, Leroy's. The dwarf's face was now red. Emma didn't know if it was because of the beer or his stories.

"Then Granny comes running out shouting, 'How dare you say my cooking's disgusting?' ". They all laughed. Mugs clicking against each other in a sin of friendship and good times. At the same time, Granny comes out from the kitchen, giving then a warning look.

"Hey, Granny! How's the crossbow?" Leroy shouted at her jokingly. He was always shouting anyway. Granny just shook her head and laughed along with them.

Emma chuckled. It's amazing how they were joking about what happened during the curse of Shattered Sight broke out when they were absolutely furious with each other to the point of almost killing each other.

"They're crazy." David said, causing Emma to turn her attention back to the table.

"David!" Mary Margaret slapped David's arm, giving him a serious look. "Don't say that! Just let them celebrate!"

Emma gave her father a look. "It's a whole lot better than complaining to the sheriff about the damages."

David tilted his head in a sign of agreement. "Point taken."

Henry beamed at them. "But, seriously, Granny with her crossbow? Cool!"

Emma shook her head at her son's words. Teenagers. Just then she realized how fast time moved. It felt like just last week, Henry was still the little 10 year old kid that brought her to Storybrooke. Now looking at the boy sitting beside her all grown up and puberty and all, Emma just couldn't but feel a bit old.

"Speaking of crossbows, can we continue those sword fighting classes, Grandpa?" Henry asked with eyes full of hope.

"Sure." David nodded.

"David!"

"Dad!"

Emma and Mary Margaret shouted at the same time.

"What?" David asked with a bewildered face, looking a bit surprised at the sudden outburst of his wife and daughter.

"It's dangerous!" Mary Margaret argued.

"He's just a kid!" Emma added in.

David smiled sheepishly and held his hands in defeat. "Sorry..."

Henry pouted. "Come on, Mom, Grandma! Shouldn't I be learning this right now so that I can start early? Plus, it can help me defend myself so you won't have to worry about me that much."

Both Emma and Mary Margaret looked at the Henry blankly while David sat beside them grinning at his grandson with pride.

"I hate you, kid. Fine, you win." Emma reached out and ran her fingers through his hair.

Henry groaned and fixed his hair immediately. "No, you don't."

"Of course, I don't." Emma chuckled. "Just be careful."

"Well, I assure you he couldn't be in better hands." David smiled, looking at Henry who was beaming happily at all of them.

At the same time, the door opened and in came Archie with a big smile on his face. Emma smiled at him and returned to David, Mary Margaret and Henry talking and laughing.

Seeing everyone in the diner, made Emma realize something. That she was truly home. She looked as Henry shared one of his stories at school to his grandparents. She could see the joy in David's and Mary Margaret's eyes as they listened intently to Henry who was waving his hands in the air. This was her home and she wouldn't want anything else.