CHAPTER FOUR
the weight of a parent
　

FOR TEN SOLID DAYS NOW, EVELYN ROBIN HAS BEEN SICK TO HER STOMACH. She couldn't stop throwing up, certain smells made her nauseous, and parts of her body were even more sore than usual. She didn't know what was wrong with her, and she intended on finding out what was going on today. But first, she had to wait until her husband left for his business trip.

They were standing outside together and Evelyn was watching as her husband finished loading up the back of their wagon with crates of honey and other necessary supplies that he would need for his two day business trip. And when Christopher finished, he covered up the back of the wagon and turned around to face her.

"All set?"

"All set," Christopher echoed.

Evelyn walked up to him, reaching and loosely looping her arms around his neck. "Have a safe trip, okay?"

"Are you certain that you're feeling okay?" Christopher asked, his voice laced with concern. "I can stay home with you and visit the markets to sell honey another day."

She caressed her fingers through his hair. "I am perfectly okay," she lied. "Go on your trip, my love. I'll be fine."

Christopher sighed as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her a little closer. "Alright, I'll go. But I'll be back before you even know it."

"You better," Evelyn said playfully.

He smiled before leaning down and giving her a kiss that made her heart flutter. When he pulled away, Christopher leaned his forehead against her own. "I love you."

"I love you," she echoed.

With another kiss, her husband was off.

The moment his cart was out of sight, Evelyn took a deep breath and rushed back inside their home to grab what she needed. After securing a brown cloak that smelt like a mixture of the forest and Christopher around her shoulders, she grabbed her coin purse off the table and left in a hurry.

With her hands clasped out in front of her stomach, Evelyn weaved through the village in search of Preston's hut. He was the healer in the Hundred Acre Wood and she knew that he was the only person that could figure out why she couldn't keep her food down and was vomiting constantly.

Evelyn paused outside the door when she reached her destination and exhaled a shaky breath before knocking.

"Just a moment!" a voice called out from inside.

She listened carefully and could hear Preston hobbling around inside. Evelyn was patient as she stood there, knowing that the man was well into his sixties and required a walking stick to get around these days.

The door opened up after a moment and Evelyn managed a small, nervous smile in his direction. "Hello, Preston."

"Evelyn Robin," he greeted with a friendly smile. "What can I do for you, my dear?"

"I haven't been feeling very well lately," Evelyn began, "and I was hoping that maybe you would know what is wrong with me."

Preston could tell that the young woman in front him was a little pale and her eyes were filled with concern for her own well-being. He didn't hesitate to step aside and gesture with his hand for her to enter his home. "Why don't you come inside and I'll see what I can do for you, Mrs. Robin."

"Thank you, Preston."

"It is my pleasure," Preston replied, closing the door behind them. He guided Evelyn inside and instructed her to sit on the stool in the center of his home. "I would feel just awful making a woman as kind as you walk away without any answers. Tell me, how is your husband?"

"Christopher is well," she answered, smiling instantly at the mention of him. "He left this morning to sell some more honey in the neighbouring villages."

Preston hummed in delight at the mention of the sweet delicacy Christopher Robin has become famously known for. "Your husband truly makes fine honey."

"He does," she agreed.

Clapping his hands together, Preston then got to work. "Now tell me," he said, "what are your symptoms?"

"I am vomiting constantly and I cannot seem to keep any food down," Evelyn explained. "Certain smells make me feel nauseous. I start feeling like I'm going to pass out if I don't get away from the smell that is bothering me. And my body is more sore than usual."

Preston smiled softly at the young woman's innocence. He knew what was wrong with her now, yet she seemed to remain oblivious. But, he supposed he could understand why she didn't recognize these symptoms. After all, she was raised by her father, her mother having died when she was very young.

"Evelyn, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"You are a young woman," he began. "Fertile and in love. A newlywed, even. Tell me, is there any chance that you could be with child?"

Evelyn felt her cheeks flush at the question and her eyes dropped to her hands, which began to slowly move toward the fabric of her dress over her stomach. It was, indeed, possible. She and Christopher were in love and they have spent many passionate nights together after their wedding. Slowly, Evelyn lifted her head and gave the man in front of her a nod. Then, she said simply, "Yes."

Preston smiled once more. "Well, then I do believe a congratulations is in order, Mrs. Robin. Your husband will be overjoyed, no doubt, yes?"

Evelyn didn't even realize she was weeping with joy until a tear dripped onto her hand. She grinned, reaching up to wipe her tears away. "Overjoyed would be an understatement when it comes to my Christopher. A family is all we have ever wanted together, you see. But, we have been trying to have a child and nothing has happened. We feared that perhaps I was not fertile." She frowned and then leaned forward, hands flat over her stomach. "Are you certain that I am with child?"

"If what you say is true," Preston said, "and you both have been trying to have a child, then I see no other explanation for the symptoms that you have described."

A breathless smile spread across her face.

Preston stood, walking across the room and looking through his herbs and other medicinal properties. "I have some herbs that I want you to brew into a tea," he said while taking out a green stemmed herb and wrapping it up in a piece of cloth before handing it to her. "Only add a small dosage to your cup of tea each day. It will help with your nausea and give nourishment to the baby as it grows. This supply should last you two months. After that, you may return and I will happily provide you with some more."

Evelyn looked up at him, a grateful smile on her face. "Thank you, Preston. How ever can I repay your kindness today?"

He shook his head when he noticed that she was reaching for her coin purse. "I will not take your money. "Your family needs it. But, if I may get some more of that delicious honey your husband makes, we can call it an even trade for the herbs."

Evelyn chuckled softly. "You have yourself a deal. Once Christopher returns from his trip, we would be happy to provide you with some more honey."

　
ALAN MILNE TIGHTENED the bolt of the washer machine hose with his wrench before sitting back on his shins and wiping the sweat from his brow with his forearm. When he was certain the job was done, Alan looked up at Ashley Boyd. "Well, that should do it," he said while wiping his hands on a rag, cleaning the grime that had been blocking the hose and splattered onto his skin in the process. "Let me know if you end up having any more issues with these machines. If it gets clogged again, I'll have to go in and replace the hose with a brand new one."

Ashley was visibly relieved by the news. "Thank you so much, Mr. Milne. If I didn't get all of these sheets cleaned for Granny today⎯⎯"

"Hey," Alan interrupted softly. He stood up from the ground, abandoning his tools so he could meet her eye. "Don't stress yourself out. You don't need that in your condition."

She nodded, smoothing a hand over her massive belly. "You're right," Ashley sighed, taking a deep breath to calm herself down. "It's just hard, y'know? Doing this alone. This isn't exactly how I pictured things when I found out I was pregnant."

"This isn't the end, Ashley, believe me," Alan said as he knelt down and began cleaning up his tools.

"Did you ever feel any doubt?"

Alan froze at the mention of his daughter. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, trying not to think about his daughter so he wouldn't fall apart in front of the nineteen-year-old girl that didn't need to see him like that. He took a moment to collect himself before looking at Ashley. "Yeah, I did. But the moment I looked at my little girl, everything changed. Sure, I was scared about being a father. I mean, I had no idea what the hell I was doing back then. But I loved Rosalie more than anything in the world." A pained smile tugged at his lips. "I always will."

"I'm sorry that I asked," Ashley apologized sincerely. "I know that you don't really like to talk about Rosalie ever since . . ."

"It's alright," Alan reassured.

Silence fell over them after that, and while Alan finished putting away the rest of his tools and then began cleaning up the area he had been working, Ashley got to work doing more of the laundry so Granny wouldn't get upset with her for not getting it done.

Then, suddenly, Emma Swan walked down the stairs. She marched right over to one of the empty washer machines and started pulling off the stained white shirt and undershirt she was wearing, leaving her in nothing but a black bra.

Alan's breath got caught in his throat as his eyes roamed the exposed flesh of her thin, muscular body. His heart started racing and his palms started to sweat. Alan swallowed thickly as Emma started putting on another shirt. Ruby's shirt, by the looks of it.

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no!" Ashley suddenly startsd sobbing, breaking him from his thoughts.

Alan flushed deeply and quickly looked away before Emma would notice. He looked at Ashley, panic in his eyes as he thought maybe something had happened to the baby. Instead, he found her fussing over a pink sheet that had previously been white.

"You okay?" Emma asked.

"The sheets, they're pink."

"Have you tried bleach?" Emma asked as she buttoned the clean blue shirt that Ruby had leant her for the day. Ashley lowered the sheet and she then noticed her swollen stomach. "Oh."

Ashley put the sheet down with a sniffle and absentmindedly ran a hand over her stomach as she leaned up against the washer machine. "Last night I felt contractions, and the doctor said that the baby could come any day now."

"So, that's great," Emma said awkwardly. It was obvious she didn't want to be part of this conversation. That she felt uncomfortable with pregnancies. Most likely due to her own past, if Alan had to guess.

"It's just that, um, when the. . . when the baby comes, no one thinks I can do this. No one thinks I can do anything," Ashley mumbled sadly.

Alan frowned.

Unlike some people in town, Alan believed in Ashley Boyd. He didn't know her very well, but he didn't have to. He knew that if she showed the same amount of effort she put into her work at the Inn and night classes then she would be an excellent mother.

"Maybe they're right," she frowned, picking up the pink sheets with a shake of her head.

"No, they're not," Alan said.

"He's right," Emma agreed, finally noticing that Alan was in the room. She glanced at him and he looked at her. Their eyes met for only a moment before Alan got flustered again and looked away. "Screw them."

"What?"

"Screw them," Emma repeated, speaking louder this time. Ashley raised a brow as Emma crossed her arms over her chest. "How old are you?"

"Nineteen."

"I was eighteen."

Ashley's eyes softened as she stared at the older blonde. "When you had a kid?

Emma nodded. "Yeah. I know what it's like. Everyone loves to tell you what you can and can't do, especially with a kid. But ultimately whatever you're considering doing, or giving up, the choice is yours."

"It's not exactly what you might think it is," Ashley said, and Alan knew that she was referring to her deal with Gold which Emma Swan had no idea about.

"It never is. People are going to tell you who you are your whole life. You just gotta punch back and say, No, this is who I am. You want people to look at you differently? Make them," Emma told her, and by the sound of her tone, Alan knew that she was getting something off her chest. "You want to change things? You are going to have to go out there and change them yourself because there are no fairy godmothers in this world."

　
HER NERVES WERE PRACTICALLY on fire as Evelyn Robin made herself a cup of tea, stirring gently with a spoon to mix in the herbs that Preston had given her the other day. She was nervous because Christopher was coming home today and she was finally going to be able to tell him that she was pregnant.

When the water settled and turned a shade of brown, Evelyn brought the cup to her lips and took a long, slow sip, her face twisting with disgust. She didn't particularly like the taste of the herbs, but thankfully she hadn't been experiencing much nausea since she started drinking it in her daily tea.

Then, suddenly, the front door opened up in walked the love her life.

"Christopher!" Evelyn grinned as she leapt from the table, almost knocking her tea over and spilling its contents in the process. She quickly crossed the room and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

Christopher chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a sweet kiss to her temple. "I was only gone for two days, my love." He stepped back to look at her and noticed that there were tears welling up in her eyes. He frowned at the sight of them. "Evelyn, what's wrong?"

"I'm just so happy to see you."

His heart fluttered at her words. If he was being honest, the last two days had been absolute torture without her. "I missed you, too," Christopher confessed so silently that she almost didn't hear him. He then leaned forward and put his lips on hers. The kiss was soft and slow and full of so much love that his heart nearly stopped beating.

They parted ways and Evelyn bit her lip to contain another smile from spreading across her face. She stepped away and helped him take off his jacket, placing it on their bed before looking at him. "How was your trip?"

"Well, besides missing you," Christopher grinned cheekily and stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her slim waist. She chuckled softly, allowing him to pull her back against his solid chest. He kissed her neck and then laid his chin down on her shoulder. "It went well. I sold all the honey that I brought with me. And, I even had a few disappointed customers that stopped by when I was already out."

"That's wonderful news!" Her eyes were soft and full of love as she gave him a proud smile. "You see, Christopher, I told you that all would work out. And just think, a few months ago you were worried that no one would ever want to buy honey from you."

Christopher hummed against her skin, the vibration of his throat against her shoulder causing goosebumps to spread across her skin. "I was a fool to think otherwise."

"Whatever would you do without me?" Evelyn teased.

"I would be terribly lost."

Evelyn turned around in his arms, a smirk playing on her lips as she looped her arms around his neck. "You absolutely would."

They laughed before he swept down, capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. Butterflies erupted in his stomach, and he melted into her touch as her fingers curved around his neck, entangling themselves in his hair.

When they parted ways, Evelyn crossed the room to put another log on the fire so she could start making supper soon. "Hey, do you think you could do me a favor and make another jar of honey for Preston?"

Christopher's brows furrowed. "Preston? The healer?"

Evelyn nodded. "I visited him straight after you left."

"You told me you were feeling better," Christopher frowned with worry. "Why would you lie?"

"Because I didn't want you to worry," Evelyn explained. "Your honey is our only source of income. You needed to go on that trip, and I knew you wouldn't leave unless you knew that I was feeling better."

Although Christopher was disappointed she had lied to him, he understood why she didn't and couldn't be mad at her. He sighed and nodded his head. "I understand, Lyn. But promise me that you will never lie to me again. If you are sick, tell me. I want to be by your side and help you get better."

Evelyn smiled. "I promise."

He smiled back before asking about her visit to the local healer. "So, what did Presoton say? Does he know what is wrong?"

She took a deep breath, and then a smile spread across her face as she caressed her flat stomach. "I'm pregnant, Christopher. Isn't that wonderful news?"

Christopher stumbled backwards, a shaky breath escaping his lips. It felt like someone had suddenly punched him in the stomach, for all the hair was sucked out of his lungs. Pregnant. His eyes filled with tears, gazing drifting to her flat stomach. He watched as her hands lay over the thin fabric of her dress, thumbs caressing the area softly.

A moment of silence passed before Christmas looked up at her, a breathless laugh of joy tumbling from his lips. "What? Are . . . are you certain?"

Evelyn nodded and crossed the space between them. She reached out and took his hand, pressing it against her flat stomach, and then she laid her hand over his much larger one. "We are going to have a child, Christopher. Our very own little family." She looked up at him, grinning, "Isn't that wonderful?"

"Aye," Christopher said breathlessly. "I'm . . . I'm going to be a father." His eyes remained on her stomach for a few more moments before they lifted and met her own. "We are having a baby," he grinned, causing something between a joyful laught and a cry to come tumbling from her lips.

He swooped down and kissed her so passionately that Evelyn's knees would have buckled had it not been for his arms slithering around her waist. Their lips moved in perfect synchronization, salty tears of joy mixing together, hearts galloping like wild horses in their chests. And as he pulled her impossibly closer, her hands dove into his thick hair, tugging softly.

Neither of them wanted this kiss to end, but the lack of oxygen was beginning to make them dizzy. Reluctantly, they pulled away, their foreheads lingering and their lips inches apart. They were fighting to catch their breath, their brains fuzzy and cheeks pink, bodies growing hot as they remained deep in each other's arms.

Christopher drew back so he could look at her, and then he reached out, brushing strands of obsidian hair from her face. "I love you, Evelyn Robin."

"I love you, too."

　
HAVING FINISHED ALL OF his appointments the next day, Alan Milne decided to go for a run through the town. It was peaceful as he ran, his earbuds playing music and the sun poking through the clouds and warming up the autumn air. He didn't have to wear his jacket today, only a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a pair of running shorts.

Sweat clung to his skin, glistening in the beating sun, as Alan rounded the corner and came upon the main strip of road in town. He slowed to a stop when he noticed Billy Fitzgerald's tow truck parked outside Granny's Diner and Old Red ⎯⎯ Ruby's car ⎯⎯ being lowered onto the road. It had been at least a month since he saw Old Red, the car having broken down not long ago.

Alan reached up to remove his earbuds and let them fall against his chest as he breathed evenly, slowing to a stop at the white picket fence where Ruby stood with Emma and Henry. "Hey, Billy," he waved, and Billy waved back. Alan then turned to face Ruby. "Been a while since I saw Ole Red."

Her red lips spread into a wide smile. "You know me. I can't be apart from my baby for too long."

Emma cleared her throat. "Um, Ruby?" The brunette reluctantly turned back around to face her. "So, this boyfriend of hers, you don't think he was involved in her disappearance?"

"Disappearance?" Alan frowned, having not heard about the missing person's report. Who was missing now?

"Ashley Boyd," Emma told him.

His eyes widened. "What? I just saw Ashley yesterday and now she's gone? What happened?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out," Emma said. "I need to find her, and fast. You heard her that morning, Alan, her baby could come any day now."

Alan nodded, and didn't hesitate to offer his services. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Well, this boyfriend of hers . . ." Emma trailed off.

"Ex-boyfriend," Alan corrected. "Sean left her right after she found out they were expecting."

"Hasn't spoken to her since, either," Ruby scoffed while cleaning up one of the tables outside with a rag. "He's a real piece of sh⎯⎯" Her sentence was cut short as Billy suddenly dropped her red car a little too recklessly, causing it to bounce and Ruby's eyes to widen in alarm as she rushed over in a panic. "Hey, hey, hey, Billy! Be careful. You almost shattered my wolf thing, Billy. It's good luck."

"I'm sorry Ruby," Billy quickly apologized. He pointed at her red glass wolf hanging from the mirror, the fragile object that Alan had bought for her a long time ago now swinging back and forth, nearly touching the window. "But look, it's fine."

"What about her family?" Emma pressed for more information, breaking Ruby's flirtatious stare with Billy which had Alan smirking in amusement nearby. His best friend always did have a thing for Billy Fitzgerald.

"Well, Ashley has a stepmom and two stepsisters," Alan informed. "But they won't be of much help."

"Why not?" Emma asked.

"Ashley doesn't talk to them anymore," he explained. "She left them when she turned eighteen. They weren't exactly the nicest of people after her father passed away. Treated her horribly, from what I heard."

"Wait, stepmom, stepsisters, and she's a maid?" Henry glanced up at Emma, a knowing smile on his face.

"Henry, not now," she told him.

"Look," Ruby sighed, "I don't know what you've heard, but it's wrong. Everyone thinks she's not ready to have this kid, but she's trying. Taking night classes, trying to better herself, trying to get her life together. Can you understand that?"

Emma nodded, and the look in her eye said it all. It was obvious that at some point in her life, she got low and tried to better herself. Alan wasn't sure if that was after she gave Henry up for adoption or before. Either way, at one point in her life, Emma had tried to better herself. Whether it worked out for her or not, he didn't know, he just hoped she was happy with how things ended up going.

"I think so."

"Then maybe you should just stay out of it," Ruby more demanded than suggested, obviously trying to protect her friend from getting hurt again. "She's been through enough already."

Emma pressed her lips together in a thin line, a determined gleam in her eye as she approached the brunette woman. "I've been through it, too, Ruby, and I can help her."

Ruby hesitated, holding the blonde's stare for several moments, and then she sighed as she realized Emma wasn't going to give up. "Then try her ex."

Emma shifted her weight from one foot to the other, seeming both happy and relieved that Ruby had given her the information she needed. "Where can I find him?"

"He lives with his dad," Ruby replied before giving her the address and directions how to get there.

　
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN HADN'T slept well all night. Every time he tried to get some sleep, he found himself in a recurring dream that would wake him instantly. In the dream, they had a son. And the baby would scream and scream his tiny little lungs out, and everything Christopher did to try and console him wouldn't work. But the moment Evelyn would touch his skin, their son would suddenly stop crying, as if her touch was magic.

He laid awake after a fourth time experiencing the same nightmare, thinking the worst. Was I going to be a terrible father?

It was a question Christopher kept repeating over and over and over again in his head as he laid beside his sleeping wife, whose stomach was much larger now. They had seen Preston the other day and he told them that the baby could come any day now. At first, Christopher couldn't wait to meet their child, but now? Now he was paralyzed with fear, as he wondered if his dream would come true.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of his wife's voice. His eyes up from her stomach and up to her face. She was awake, looking at him with concern. Evelyn brought her hand up and pressed it to his cheek, caressing his stubble with her thumb. He turned his head and kissed her palm softly as she asked what was troubling him.

"Nothing," he told her with a forced smile which she could see straight through.

Evelyn frowned. "You forget that I know you better than anyone, Christopher Robin. Tell me, what troubles you?"

Christopher sighed and looked away, causing her to frown in concern. Evelyn pushed herself up on her elbows and touched his face so their eyes would meet. "Hey," she said softly, "you can tell me anything, you know that."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Was it a nightmare?"

He nodded, causing her to frown again. She leaned down and placed a soft kiss to his cheek, using her fingers to brush his long hair out of his face. "Would you like to talk about it?"

"I was holding our son," Christopher began after some hesitance. She could tell that he didn't want to talk about it, but wanted to get it off his chest at the same time. Evelyn stayed quiet, wondering why such a dream could keep him from sleeping. "He was so beautiful, and looked so much like you. His hair was so dark. Darker than yours. And he had your eyes."

Evelyn found herself smiling at the description. "Why, that sounds like a wonderful dream."

"Our son was crying, and no matter what I did, he wouldn't stop," Christopher explained, causing her smile to morph into a frown as she looked at him. "He would only ever grow quiet at the touch of your skin."

Eveyln sighed as she looked down at him, but he didn't meet her eyes. She understood now. He feared that he wasn't going to be the good father he's always dreamed of being. "Christopher, that was only a dream. You are going to be an amazing father."

"But what if I'm not?" Christopher asked. "I don't know how to hold a baby, let alone calm one down. I mean, how am I supposed to be a good father to our child if I don't even know what to do with a baby?"

She gently took his hand and brought it up to her lips, where she placed a lingering kiss that sent a shiver down his spine. Finally, with this kiss, his eyes met her own once more and she could see all the doubt swimming in his ocean blue eyes. It made her bite her lip before smiling.

"I know that you will be an amazing father because you are an amazing husband," Evelyn said. "And do you honestly think that I know how to be a mother? None of that matters, Christopher, because we'll learn how to be parents together."

Christopher smiled up at her, and even though a sliver of him would always hold onto that doubt and fear, he knew that she was right. She didn't know how to be a mother and he didn't know how to be a father, so they would learn together.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

Evelyn pursed her lips in thought before a smile broke out on her face. "Only about a million times."

"Well here is one million and one," Christopher grinned. "I love you, Evelyn Robin. Now and always."

"Now and always," she echoed. Then, she leaned down for a kiss.

　
THE DOOR TO GRANNY'S DINER burst open and swung hard against the bronze bell, making the usually pleasant and welcome melody sound odd. Before Alan could even turn around in his seat to see who the culprit was, Emma Swan approached the counter, coming right to his side and interrupting his conversation with Ruby. Immediately, the words "why didn't you tell me she sold the baby" fell from her mouth in a form of anger.

"Because I didn't think it was important," Ruby replied nonchalantly.

"Really, considering that's why she's running away?" Emma swung her head around to face Alan and he felt his body grow tense under the intensity of her hazel eyes. "Did you know anything about this?"

Alan remained silent before nodding his head in response. "Yeah," he admitted. "I did."

"What the hell?" Emma's wide eyes looked between them in disbelief, and Alan found himself feeling guilty for not mentioning it earlier. Then again, it really wasn't any of her business anyway. She wasn't even the sheriff, she was just a bail bonds person.

"And you didn't think I should know about this?" Emma scoffed as she went on. "That would have been useful information considering Gold is the one who wants me to find her."

"She's pregnant and scared, and she just wants to keep her baby." Alan spared Ruby a glance, for just moments ago his best friend had finished telling him that she got her car fixed so that Ashley could use it to skip town. He looked at Emma again and shrugged. "Maybe she just ran off to get away from Gold. You wouldn't understand, Emma."

"Oh, I understand just fine."

"No, Emma, I don't think you do," Alan said. "You aren't a parent. You wouldn't understand what being a parent is like because you made the decision to give your child away."

Emma froze, hurt flashing across her face, lips pressing into a thin line. Alan swallowed, immediately feeling guilty for saying such a thing. He didn't know Emma or her reasons for giving Henry up, but he couldn't take back what he had said just now.

When she turned her head, Alan noticed that Henry was with her, which only made him feel even worse about what he said. He wanted to apologize, but he had suddenly been rendered speechless by his own words.

"Oh, and you do?" Emma snapped after quickly recovering from what he said, her hazel eyes that had once been shining with hurt turning hard in a matter of seconds.

This time, it was Alan's face that fell at the hurtful words that stung his heart painfully.

"Emma⎯⎯"

"No, it's fine, Ruby," Alan cut his friend off. He stood up and gathered up his book before laying a five dollar bill on the counter to pay for the piece of pie he had been eating. "It's fine." With that being said, he turned and left the diner without saying another word, ignoring his friend's pleas.

"You shouldn't have said that," Ruby told Emma with a scowl once the door had closed and Alan was gone. "You don't even know him. You may have given up your child for adoption, but Alan never did."

Emma's eyes widened in shock, having not known that Alan was a father. "I-I didn't . . ."

"Of course, you didn't." Ruby moved around the counter and folded her arms as she held a wet rag in her hand. "Alan chooses not to talk about his family because it's painful for him, and we never bring it up either."

Emma sighed. She knew that she had crossed the line. But, in her defense, she didn't know that Alan lost a kid. If she had, she wouldn't have said what she said. But, that didn't change the fact that she still needed to find Ashley Boyd before it was too late.

"Look," Emma sighed, "I'm sorry. If I had known about his family then I wouldn't have said what I said. And I mean that. I can't even begin to imagine what losing a kid feels like. You can guarantee my apology. But, Ruby . . . I really need your help here. Just help me find Ashley. I can help her make the right choice here."

Ruby walked over to the food window after noticing a plate of food waiting to be served. "Look," she said while grabbing the plates and quickly serving her customers. "Ashley's my friend. This is her choice, not yours. And I don't like the idea of people judging her as you've been. You should just do what I said and leave her alone."

Emma frowned, smacking her hand down on the food window, only to have something catch her eye. It was a red glass wolf figurine. The exact same one she saw hanging in Ruby's car from earlier. "Ruby, where's your car?" She quickly looked out the window, only to find that Ruby's car was, just as she was suspecting, gone. Her eyes widened in realization as she approached Ruby, who was standing behind the counter again. "You didn't send me to Sean to find her. You sent me there to give her a head start."

"Look, I'm only trying to help her."

"Yeah, so am I." Emma leaned up against the counter, Henry at her side. "Ashley's in more trouble than you know, Ruby. Where is she? Don't make her deal with Gold without me."

Ruby hesitated before her features softened, a sign to Emma that she was going to help. She then glanced down at Henry, "I can't talk in front of him. He's the mayor's kid."

Henry's face dropped, clearly offended. "Hey, I'm on your side."

Ruby only gave the boy a shrug before she walked away. She cleared the corner booth while waiting for Emma to finish talking with Henry, bringing the empty dishes to the counter to be cleaned. When she turned back around, Ruby noticed that Emma had sent Henry to wait for her outside. And even though she felt bad about doing this, she knew that Emma wasn't going to stop bugging her unless she found Ashley. So, with a sigh, she leaned up against the counter and told the blonde everything she knew.

"She left town," Ruby explained. "Said she was gonna try Boston, thought she could disappear there."

"How long ago did she leave?"

"About a half an hour ago."

　
CRIES OF AGONY BURST from the mouth of Evelyn Robin as she felt another sharp pain blossom in the lower half of her body. It was just moments ago that the young woman had been eating supper with her husband when she was overcome with an unbearable pain and water had burst from between her legs, soaking the skirt of her dress.

After setting up a cot near the fireplace, undressing his wife down to her slip and helping her onto the floor, Christopher left in a hurry to retrieve his aunt, who had agreed to be Evelyn's midwife several months ago when they told her they were pregnant.

When Christopher reached his aunt's home, he started pounding on the door until she answered. Alyssa Robin saw the expression on his face and immediately knew what was wrong. He quickly explained the situation before helping his aunt grab whatever she would need for the childbirth, and then they hurried back to the house.

They found Evelyn right where Christopher had left her. She was gripping her stomach and groaning in pain, skin slick with sweat as she lay there on the makeshift cot next to the roaring fireplace. He hurried to her side, dropping down to his knees and grabbing her hand, kissing her knuckles.

"I'm here, my love," Christopher said soothingly as she pushed sweaty strands of hair out of her face. "I'm here."

Alyssa quickly threw on an apron and rolled up her sleeves before dropping to the ground between Evelyn's legs. She checked how far her niece was dilated, and when she realized the child was already on their way out, she looked up at them with a smile.

"Alright, Evelyn, it's time," Alyssa said. "You have to push for me, okay?"

Evelyn nodded weakly, and Christopher helped ease her into a more comfortable position. She leaned back against his chest and held his hands tightly. She then gritted her teeth and pushed with every ounce of strength that she had, screaming and crying from the pain that consumed her.

After pushing for a solid thirty seconds, Evelyn fell back against Christopher's chest. She took a short break to regain her strength and catch her breath, for this was without a doubt, the worst pain she had ever experienced in her entire life. And it only got worse the more she had to push.

"You are doing so well, love," Christopher whispered near her ear as he dabbed a cloth across her sweaty forehead before pressing a kiss to her temple.

His voice was like honey, so sweet and rich against her ears. Before she could say anything, Evelyn felt another sharp pain and more screams followed. She gripped onto his hard so hard that she thought she was going to break every bone. But he never complained one time, knowing that the pain in his hand could never compare to childbirth.

"You're doing great, sweetheart. Just one more big push for me!" Alyssa instructed from her place in-between Eveyln's legs, which had been propped up so she had better access to retrieve the baby.

Christopher watched as his wife fought to catch her breath while moaning in pain. He leaned down close and kissed her cheek. "You got this," he said encouragingly. Their eyes met, and his heart broke when all he could see was the pain that she was in.

"I can't," Evelyn cried. "Please, it hurts."

"I know it does," Christopher said, his heart clenching tightly at her words. He hated seeing her in so much pain. "I know. But you can do this, Eve, I know you can. You are so strong and so brave."

Evelyn gave him a weak smile while nodding. He kissed her knuckles, and she gritted her teeth while giving one last final push. She screamed and cried, but then the pain was gone and she heard the most beautiful sound in the entire world.

The first cry of their baby.

"It's a girl," Alyssa cried happily, lifting the baby so could see. The infant was wet and shivering, and she was flailing her tiny limbs around as she cried.

A girl.

Tears slipped down his cheeks as he looked at his daughter. She had tufts of wavy black hair all across her scalp, and her eyes were a soft shade of brown. She looked so much like her mother. So much like the woman that he loved. She was so beautiful. And she was all theirs.

From beside him, Evelyn let out a sob. "She's so beautiful!"

Alyssa used a knife to cut the umbilical cord and then got to work cleaning the fussing baby, before wrapping her in the blanket Evelyn had spent the past six months making for this very moment. Then, she leaned forward and placed the baby into her nephew's arms, and it was then the man knew his life was complete.

Christopher looked down and his breath got caught in his throat when the infant's eyes met his own. He smiled breathlessly and reached one of his hands up to pull back the blanket she was bundled up in so that he could see her face better. She took his finger, wrapping her small fist around it, and his heart soared.

When Evelyn sat up, Christopher turned and placed their daughter into her eager arms. She pulled back the blanket much like her husband had, and smiled breathlessly down at the beautiful little human she had brought into the world, a joyful laugh to fall from her lips as she did. She honestly couldn't believe that something so beautiful and perfect could come from all that pain.

"Oh, she's perfect," she said, lip quivering.

"She is," Christopher agreed. Gently, he ran his fingertips over the small tufts of dark hair that covered his daughter's scalp. "She has your hair."

"And your nose," Evelyn grinned up at her husband. Their eyes met and they shared a brief kiss, before looking down at their daughter with fondness once more.

"Does she have a name?" Alyssa asked.

Evelyn looked up at her husband, who silently nodded, giving her permission to reveal the name they had chosen about a month ago. She smiled and looked at Alyssa, giving the woman an answer. "We've decided to name her for my mother. Madeline."

a/n: idk about all of you, but these were some of my favourite flashbacks?? like, christopher and evelyn are just so freaking soft and i really enjoy writing for them. you'll get more flashbacks of them as the book goes on to establish their relationship some more and even christopher's life after he lost his family

also, from now on, i'm going to be posting edits for each new chapter on my wattpad tiktok! if you want to watch them, you can find me via dunbonnet.wp! thanks in advance for following and enjoy the edits!