Helping Emma

Chapter 20

Time jump - 5 years later. From now on I'm going to start telling this from Emma's POV. Sorry if there is any confusion.

Regina and I have been happily married now for 3 years and we have 2 kids. 4 year old twins Henry and Sophia. When we found out we were having twins, we really needed to figure out our living arrangement. The Mills Farm ended up buying the house from our neighbors and now we use that as our home. We put in the petting zoo that we were talking about and it's been a great success. It's open 4 days a week and we have a lot of schools that have called to schedule the kids for field trips. Right now we are in the process of trying to get a small ice cream stand built, because right now we just have a small stand for snacks and drinks. "Daddy, daddy. Mommy's looking for you". My little Sophia comes running to me and I pick her up as she jumps in my arms. "Where is mommy sweetie". "She in the oppice with auntie Z".  "Oh. She's in the office. It must be important then. Do you think I'm in trouble?"  She nods her head yes, making me laugh. As we are walking to the farmhouse I ask, "Where is your brother Soph ?"  "Henry wit uncle Franky and the horsies". I smile at that. Franky has been so great around here. He went back to school and got his GED, then he enrolled at the local community college to study animal science. He has really stepped up around here. His brother Bash is also still working here and going to the community college to study art and literature. I've read some of his writing and he's very good. Ian is also still with us and he's studying to be an EMT. It's been 6 years and his family still won't even acknowledge him because he's gay. He's says he doesn't care because we have been a better family to him than he's ever had. All 3 are wonderful young men. I walk in the office, still with Sophia in my arms. "Your little messenger told me I was wanted in here". I say tickling my daughters belly making her giggle. "Yes. That construction company that we called said they would be here soon. We would like you to sit in on the meeting". Zelena said. "Of course I'd be happy to. Anything for my favorite sister-in-law". I smile at her and she sticks her tongue out at me. "Ok you two. Can we please act like adults when these people get here?"  "Yes Regina". Zelena and I say at the same time. I send Sophia out to the barn to check on Henry and she quickly runs out. I walk over to my wife and give her a kiss. "How are you feeling sweetheart?"   "I feel fat Emma. Thank you for asking".  "But you look so beautiful babe".  "I'm not beautiful. I'm fat and cranky. How did I let you talk me into this again?"   "If I remember correctly there wasn't a lot of talking involved". I say with a laugh causing Regina and her sister to roll their eyes. Regina is 6 months pregnant with our 3rd baby. The doctors assured us that it's only one this time and that it's a girl. I take Regina's hand and give it a kiss. "Don't care how you think you look, you will always be gorgeous to me". Regina smiles at me as we hear a knock on the office door. We all turn to look and there are two men standing at the door. One of them I immediately recognize and begin to shake and hold Regina's hand tighter. She can tell something is wrong and looks at me. "Emma what is it sweetheart?"  But I can't move, I can't speak. It's him. It's really fucking him. The one bastard they never caught. Well he's mine now. I turn to Regina and say "Call the police". "Emma what's wrong?"  "Call the police now". I jump up and run straight for this guy and punch him as hard as I can. Once he's down I just continue punching him over and over again. Thankfully Regina does as I asked and called the police and they are on their way. The other guy pulled me off the scum bag, but I tried hard to get loose. Regina finally walked over and got me to focus. I looked at her and started crying. "I'm sorry Regina. I'm sorry you had to see that".  "It's ok my love. Who is that man?"  "That's not a man, that's a monster. He was one of the assholes that kidnapped me. He raped me Regina". I whispered that last part to her. I still hate saying it. The police arrive and the Sheriff who took over for me knows exactly who the bloody guy on the floor is. "Are you ok Emma?"   "Yes Graham I'm ok. I just lost it for a moment. I'm sorry. I saw him and I thought he was back for me".   "It's ok Emma, I understand". The deputies are tending to the guy on the floor and the contractor just looks completely confused. "I'm sorry, could someone please explain to me what just happened?" Sheriff Graham Hunter speaks to him. "Does this man work for you?"  "Yes. He's one of my construction workers. We were called here about a job. And this woman just went crazy". Of course that pissed me off. "CRAZY?  Do you have any idea who this man is and what he's done in his past?"  "Emma please let me handle this". Graham says to me. I sigh and back off. "This man has been wanted by all law enforcement for over 5 years. How long has he worked for you?"  "Just a few months. He said he was new in town and needed a job".  "We are going to need every bit of information you have on him. I'm assuming he gave you an ID and you have a personnel file on him?"  "Yes of course. Everything is at my office". Graham calls a few deputies over to escort the contractor back to his office to retrieve the information, while and ambulance had to come for Sydney Glass. The fucker that couldn't keep his gross hand off me. Our statements are taken and Graham told us that he will be processed immediately and they will also post extra units in the area to drive by the farm just to make me more at ease. He didn't say that last part but I know thats why he's doing it and I'm grateful. I have a family I'm worried about. Oh shit. The kids. I start freaking out a bit. "Regina where are the babies? Are they ok? Where are they?"  "Emma it's ok. It's ok I promise. I had Zelena take them up to the old apartment. They are coloring and they are safe". I let out a breath and tears start falling from my eyes. Regina wraps her arms around me and Graham says he'll be in touch and leaves. Regina just holds me for I don't know how long. "Im so sorry Gina. I hope your not afraid of me after seeing me freak out like that. I just saw him and I wasn't gonna let him hurt any of us, ever".  "Oh no Emma. Never my love. I understand why you did what you did".  "Are you feeling ok, is the baby ok, do you need to go get looked at because of everything that happened? I'm sure that affected you a bit". She gives me a kiss. "I'm fine Emma, I promise you". I nod. "Do the kids know what happened?"  "No sweetheart. Zelena took them upstairs before the police showed up. She sent Franky in to help". "Franky was here? I don't even remember seeing him.  Do you think it's ok if we go up and see the kids?"  "Of course, but how about we have Zelena bring them down here, I don't think I could make all those stairs". She says with a chuckle which make me smile a little. I nod and she calls Zelena. Our babies come running into the living room and I call them over to me and I hug them so tight and I cry a little. "Daddy why you cry?" Henry asks me and Sophia looks a little scared. "These are happy tears. I love you both so much that sometimes I just miss you both while me and mommy are working on the farm". They both look at me, but believe my lie. "So did you have fun coloring with auntie Z?"  The both nod happily. "Henny cullid you sumtin Daddy" ( in 4 year old talk she means- Henry colored you something). "He did? What did you color for me my boy?"  They both go off to Zelena who is holding their coloring book. They get the papers they want and Henry walks to me and Sophia goes to Regina. "Here Daddy". Henry is so my boy. He's more soft spoken like me and he looks just like me except he has Regina's dark hair, and Sophia has my hair color and is exactly like Regina, which is scary. This little girl is like my wife's clone. I look at the paper Henry colored for me and it's a dad with yellow hair reading his 2 young kids a bedtime story. And it's perfect, because that's what we all do every night. "This is incredible Henry. Thank you so much. I love it". Regina looks at hers and it's a doctor looking at a horse. Regina loves hers as well and thanks our daughter. "So do I get to know what's going on now?" Zelena asks quietly, as the kids start coloring again at the coffee table. "Hey my babies, how about a little snack before we have dinner?"  They both enthusiastically nod yes. The adults walk into the kitchen and I immediately grab a beer from the fridge and sit on the island stool. Zelena gets a glass of wine and Regina gets the kids some snacks. Cheese crackers, grapes and 1 cookie each. I laugh a bit. She knows if she puts any more junk on that plate they would only eat that. They are my kids after all. "Zelena I'm really sorry about what happened. I'm sure you already know the reason I started here was because of my anxiety issues. Did Regina tell you the reason why?"  "My sister hardly tells me anything about her personal life. No Emma, other than you being referred by Dr. Hopper I don't know anything else".  "Well you know I used to be Sheriff here". She nods. "Before moving here I was a cop in Lowell Massachusetts for a few years. When I moved here a few of the guys I arrested came and found me here and kidnapped me. They held me in a trailer for a few days. They beat me and that guy that showed up here he, he, Ahhh...".  I clear my throat. "He rapped and tortured me because of the way I was born".  I said as tears started rolling down by cheeks. Zelena looks horrified and sorry for me. That's why I hate telling people. "Emma, I'm". I interrupt her. "Yes I know your sorry. It's ok, I'm alive and I have a great life now. I'm married to the best woman I know. No offense Zelena. I love you, but I'm in love with your sister". She smiles and laughs a little. "It's ok Emma. I get it".  "I do love her so much Zelena. I love the life we've made, I love our children. Shit Zelena. Do you think what I did today changed Regina's mind about me?"  "Emma try and relax. Regina loves you. She knows what you've been through. You saw that jerk and your instincts kicked in. In that moment you did what you needed to do to protect you family. I now understand that from what you've told me, I know Regina feels the same".  "I hope she does because I don't know what I'd do without her and our kids". I give Zelena a hug and Regina walks in. "Zelena get your damn hands off my wife". She says with a smile. Zelena holds up her hands and says. "She hugged me first Regina". We all laugh. "So I take it everything is ok in here?"  "Yes dear sister. We are all fine, but it looks like we need to call a new construction company".  "I'm really sorry.  it's my fault that we have to keep looking for a new contractor".  "Emma, please don't worry about that. If companies want to hire scum bags like that then we don't need them working for us. I will be looking into the backgrounds of these employees better with the next one". Zelena tells me with a smile. I'm glad she's not mad at me for what I did in the office. I'm really going to need an appointment with Archie about this. Thankfully the rest of the day was relaxing. Regina and I spent time with the kids because I really need them all with me after this afternoon. I actually colored a picture with them. Regina smiled at me the whole time. We ordered pizza for dinner. It surprised me because it was Regina's idea. We watched Aladdin because I love the music in it and the kids love the Genie, Regina just loves how we all act out the songs while we watch it. My favorite part of the movie starts, when Aladdin and Jasmine are flying on the magic carpet and singing "A Whole New World" and look at Regina and sing. "Don't you dare close your eyes, hold your breath its gets better". I love singing that part to my wife. The first time we watched this together I sang that part and kissed her on the cheek then I whispered it in her ear again. "Hold your breath its gets better". She looked at me and knew I was talking about our life together, that every day would be better than the last and so far it has been.