Chapter 6: When Harry Met Emma (Again)
Harry frowned as he sat at The Gold Law Firm as himself—the Harry version— with Hermione,
"I really think this is a dumb idea." She said, "You should just tell Emma the truth."
"Oh, yeah, like she'll buy that. You know the old ministry obliviations make people even more adverse into believing anything more thrilling than the iPhone. Plus, I'm not going to have her view me as a crazy person. Not when my son is being raised by that loon."
"I still can't believe the baby's alive." Hermione said.
"Neither can I," He said. "Hermione. I. I should've known."
"You couldn't have." She said. "I remember that you said Ron said she lost a lot of blood, and God knows Emma never said anything about a baby."
"Because she thought she was raped." He said, "I—I don't know how she could stand the past ten years thinking that Ralph Miller did that to her."
The past week he hadn't been able to sleep at all. Just thinking of what his wife was going through and the fact that he had a son after there who was growing up as Regina as a mother.
"It's okay, Harry," Hermione said. "God, that sounded so wrong didn't it? None of this is okay."
"No," He said. "This has to work, Hermione. It—Emma?"
She stood at the door looking at them. Today, she was dressed in a navy colored suit that was tailored perfectly to her body. Like the other day, her hair was pulled up in a simple bun. There was no recollection when she saw Harry. Not that he expected any. Even if she had recognized him in his original form, he had changed a lot in ten years. He wore his dark hair longer, much like Ford Gold, which in turn made it appear much flatter than how he wore it when he was younger. He also had grown a few more inches and had filled out as well, which made the charcoal suit he was wearing look a lot better than it would've years ago.
"Hermione?" She said as her eyes focused on his best friend.
Obviously, he recognized her not him. Even though Hermione like him had grown up a bit.
"Emma! It's been a long time." His best friend said smiling. "You look wonderful. "
"I, uh, am looking for Ford." She said, "I'm sorry for interrupting we were supposed to have a meeting— "
"Ford got caught up in an emergency hearing," Hermione said. "I'm here for him. You'll be happy to know that I'm now a licensed attorney."
"Oh, I thought." Her eyes focused on Harry. "Do I know you? You said my name, but I can't recall meeting you before."
"This is Harry Potter," Hermione said going over the lie they had went over.
"Is he an associate of yours?" His wife asked.
"No, he's another client of the firm's." Hermione stated.
"So, is this a consultation then?" Emma asked. "I thought—well, I know I'm working for the firm, but Ford and I had other business to discuss."
Hermione shook her head. "No. You know that Ford had a DNA sample taken from you last week, correct?"
She nodded. "Well, we ran it through are client database. It's standard policy, we don't want to have a conflict of interest where we find out that we're representing one of the parities or what not—and well, Harry was found to be a match."
"What?" Emma said. "I don't, I don't even know you."
"But you did," Harry sighed. "We met in over ten years ago. We were going to start a new life together in London—you, me, and our child. We were married."
She looked at him as if he was crazy and shook her head. "That—that makes no sense."
"Emma," Hermione said. "Do you remember what you told Ford about your time in London? It was hazy, wasn't it?"
She nodded. "Yeah, it was hazy. But it doesn't explain how I was married to this stranger of all people."
Harry sighed. "You lost your memory, I suspect it was from the accident. It happened when I was gone."
"Gone?"
"I had business to attend to," He said. "You were supposed to be in the care of a friend. Only there was an accident and I thought I lost you."
It was as good as a lie he could come up with. He knew it was bad. It was really bad. But he couldn't exactly tell her the truth that her memory was zapped away by over eager obliviators.
"An accident?" She said, "I don't—I don't remember any of this."
"I expect you wouldn't." He said. "Head trauma can do some funny things to a person. I thought you were dead, Emma. I thought our child was dead."
One out of two wasn't a complete lie and he even had the tear in his eye to prove this.
"We did the DNA tests twice, Emma." Hermione said. "Ford wanted to be sure, you've been through so much already. He couldn't believe the results the first time either."
Emma nodded. "It explains—it explains why he doesn't look like him. I guess I should be relieved."
She had somewhat of a haunted look on her face.
"Emma?" Harry asked. "Love?"
She shook her head. "Please, don't. I'm just trying to wrap around my head that something I thought happened to me didn't. I just—are we still married?"
"Technically," Harry said. "I never had you declared legally dead. I know I should've, but—"
"I am really married," Emma said.
"I still have the ring," Harry said.
She shook her head and turned towards Hermione. "Did Ford verify this?"
"Trust me, he did." She said. "He wanted to be here himself to tell you the news. He said he'd call you later—"
Emma nodded. "I don't thinks seeing the ring is necessary. It might be too much now."
Hermione took this opportunity to continue. "I know this is a lot to take in, but Ford and I thought it would be best to have Harry here given the fact that he is interested in Jaime's welfare as well."
"His legal name is Henry." Emma said softly.
"His name is Jaime." Harry corrected, "James Swan-Potter to be specific."
"His adopted mother changed his name," Emma said. "You can't expect a kid to want to change their name after ten years."
"Okay," Hermione said. "The point is that you both have an interest in your child, and Harry is just as concerned about him as you are. And with Harry's help, we might have an actual chance at getting the adoption overturned since he's not a US citizen."
"Oh," Emma said sort of knowing where Hermione was headed with this. Because Harry was a foreign national, the adoption might be void in his country. Or at the very least give them some issue to fight on.
"Oh, is right." Hermione said. "Of course, Ford and I want to pursue all other angles. But this would make Regina's claims substantially insignificant. Especially if you two decided to present a united front."
"United front?" Emma said.
"Stay married for the time being," Hermione said filling in the blanks. "I talked to Harry and he seemed okay with the idea."
Emma bit her lip. "I don't even know you."
"I know," He said. "And I promise I'm not going to push you to do anything you don't want to do. If you want a divorce now, we can get one. I just—I need to be part of our child's life."
He was hoping, praying, she wouldn't take him up on the offer. It had all been a calculated risk. He could only hope her want for getting Henry out of Regina's grasps undid her desire for getting a divorce from a perfect stranger.
"I need to think about this." She then turned towards Hermione, "I want, no need, to talk to Ford."
She nodded. "I'll call his legal assistant and see when he's due out of court. Harry, don't you have an appointment you said you needed to get to?"
He nodded. Looking at Emma he said, "I'll be in touch."
She nodded, obviously not paying that much attention to him. He and Hermione walked towards Ford's office. As soon as they entered she said, "Well, that just went wonderfully. Harry, I don't know if it's going to work."
"What else was I supposed to do?" He asked. "I can't let Regina have custody of Jaime, Hermione. You know that. And the truth, she's already messed up enough."
"Yes, but at least she knows Ford." She said, "It would've—"
He shook his head. "She's already so fragile. I'm not going to break the whole magic bomb to her, until she's ready. Besides, it's not like I was expecting her to fall in love with me. She's still broken."
"Well, can you really blame her?" His best friend said. "I only hope Ford can calm her down."
He rolled his eyes. "Is it odd that I'm sort of jealous of my other self, dearie?"
She rolled her eyes, "I'm not even going to respect that with an answer. Give me about ten minutes before Ford comes in. God, I can't believe I agreed to this ridiculous charade."
He looked at her, "It's really the only way."
"Sadly, I know you're right. You better hope you that Ford get Emma to agree to stay married to you, otherwise this is going to blow up in your face."
He frowned, "Oh, believe me, I know."
It should work.
At least that's what he told himself. He had thought through everything else, and he told himself she'd eventually agree. She knew how much she wanted Jaime back. But he hated the way she looked at him, as if she didn't trust him. He couldn't exactly blame her. He was a complete stranger to her; a complete stranger who claimed he married and impregnated her.
He was actually glad to slip in Ford Gold form for once to talk. Usually, he hated his alter ego's form, too much reminder of the past and Bae, but today he wore it as a protective shield.
Emma was still in the office sitting there staring at her nails as Hermione said something to her.
"I see I missed the big news." He said walking in. "Where's Potter?"
"He had a meeting to attend to." Hermione said. "I'll leave you two alone to talk."
"Thanks, dearie." He said to Hermione before turning to Emma. "See, why I didn't want to tell you over the phone."
She turned to him and nodded. "I—I am married to that guy."
"Apparently," He said. "You should've seen his reaction when I told him that you and Jaime were alive. He practically wanted to give me a medal."
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm not joking, love."
"I know you're not," She said. "I just find the whole situation bizarre. Though, it does explain why Jaime doesn't look like him."
"You meant Miller." He said inwardly his stomach turned at the prospect that his wife had thought that their child had looked like the guy she suspected of raping her for a decade.
She nodded. "I guess I should feel relief?"
Ford shrugged. "It would freak me out if I found out I was married to someone I didn't know about for ten years too, love."
"He seemed okay with it all," Emma said. "I mean, it didn't even phase him."
"He's had a longer time to deal with it." Ford said, "To him it's a walking miracle. Apparently, he's became quite the workaholic after you 'died'."
"I don't get it," She said. "I mean, how could he have thought I was dead?"
"There was an accident from what I understand," Ford said. "Didn't Potter and Hermione tell you this?"
She nodded. "I just—I don't know. It just seems a little odd that no one's been able to put these pieces together before."
"To be fair, we might've if I knew about Jaime." Ford said, "But that's isn't anyone's fault."
"It's mine," She said. "I should've done something."
"Emma."
"He wants to stay married." She said, "I can't get over the fact that I'm married. And he wants to put up a united front in order to fight for my son. A perfect stranger, Ford. I don't know him. I—I mean, I guess it's better than what I thought happened to me. But it could still be a bunch of lies."
He shook his head. "It's not, Emma. Trust me."
She gave him a weird look.
"After what happened to you, I do my homework when it concerns you. Potter isn't a bad guy. He does care about you and your child."
"But I even know him." She said.
Even though he knew she thought as much, it still stung to hear those actual words. He took a deep breath trying to not let those words get to him. "I know. And he knows as much too. This is about Jaime, love. It really would be the best for now if you and Harry stay married. The courts like married couples, as you know."
"Even people who forgot they were married for ten years?" Emma said with a laugh.
"Obviously, you've never been to family court." He said with a wry smile.
She laughed. "I know it would help our chances Ford, and Harry's citizenship would be a good enough avenue as any to get the case into court. But I just don't know if I can do it."
"He won't be there that much," Ford said. "If that's what you're worried about. And God knows, my house is large enough where it will seem like you're in separate continents."
She laughed. "Yeah, you didn't exactly tell me how large that place is."
"I told you that you were taking it off my hands." He said with a small smile, "And think about it this way you can use Potter for free labor."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Now, I see what your angle is. I just don't know."
He nodded. "Well, if you decide to do it and if he bugs you. You can always call me, I'll kick his ass."
Emma laughed.
"What? You don't think I can do that?"
"Have you looked at Potter?" She said.
He frowned. "Really, love. You don't think I'm capable of physical ass kicking?"
A part of him was insulted, even though he knew very well that his original form was far less imposing than the form he had now. Then again, he had never been as physically active in his old life. Having his heart ripped out of his chest and being chased by a maniacal dark lord for most of his life had changed that. Plus, he found that exercising got his mind off of a lot of problems and allowed him to physically attack something without getting lectured for being evil.
Emma laughed. "I'm sure you can be intimidating, but that guy has a few inches on you and he looks like he could give my personal trainer a run for his money."
"Looks and physical strength aren't everything when it comes to ass kicking," He said not knowing why it upset him so much that Emma obviously found his original form to be a superior specimen to his other form.
Sometimes, this having two versions of his self-thing drove him crazy.
"Oh, believe me, I know." Emma said. "I know you're right though, about this whole scenario. It could work, and as much as I hate saying it being married would work better in my favor. But—"
"But what?"
"I don't think I can give him what he wants." She said. "Or we could even pass as a married couple, I don't do relationships Ford. That part of me died a long time ago."
She looked down as she said that. Even now, knowing that it was far less likely that Ralph had ever touched her, she still had those feelings. Harry knew as much. Even after showing her that the DNA test revealed that he not the man who haunted her for years was the father of their son, she had to live with those thoughts and nightmares for so many years.
"I get it." He said, "I haven't been keen on relationships myself for a long time either."
"Because of your wife?" Emma asked.
Wife, it was the second time she mentioned he was married. He knew she was more than likely referring to the fictional encounter that Regina had unknowingly set up in Stroybrooke. From what she told him, his wife was named Lacey. Not knowing anything he said, "I'm surprised you know about her. Who told you?"
"I saw pictures, and the sheriff filled me in. I know that your father in law, Moe French, that he caused the accident and that Regina kept him from being prosecuted. That must have been beyond difficult."
He frowned. She was referring to Belle. He guessed Regina's cursed history referred to Enchanted Forest events and twisted them to fit this world. She had in essence, helped Moe escape his wrath from causing Belle's death.
God, he still felt guilty over it. He still hated Regina over the way she manipulated and twisted him into leaving Belle and ending up causing the girl's life to be destroyed.
"You have no idea." He said, "My wife was my everything."
He wasn't referring to Belle though, not that she knew it. It was hard to admit that. When he first suggested marrying Emma, it had been more or less to give their child stability. It didn't mean he didn't care for Emma, he did like her quite a bit. But back then, he kept trying to dismiss whatever it was they had. At least the old part of him was. Until he lost her. Until then, he couldn't admit that it wasn't just genuine affection he felt for her, it was love. A different sort of love than what he felt for Belle, but it was love never the less.
Emma smiled. "I wish that was why I wasn't friendly towards relationships. Not that losing a love one isn't awful on its own, but at least you had the opportunity to love. I just—I can't help but think about what happened to me. And now to find out what I thought didn't even happen, God this sounds so fucked up."
"No," He said. "No, it doesn't. Even though Ralph Miller isn't the father of Jaime, even though it's unlikely that he touched you. He and his family traumatized you. You lived with that pain for over ten years, it's real."
She sighed heavily. "Thank you. I just—do you really think I can do this?"
"I think you can if that's what you want to do. Regardless, I will help you get Jaime back. I just see this as being the easiest way to undermine Regina."
She nodded. "Then tell him I'll do it."
"Are you sure?" He asked inwardly chiding himself for questioning her. He got the answer he wanted he should've moved then.
"I'm sure." She said with a small smile. "Like you said, Jaime is our first priority. I'm just glad that you're helping me, Ford."
"You know that I'd do anything for my favorite client and new employee."
She laughed, "Yeah, we'll I hope you mean that because the Storybrooke location is going to need a complete renovation."
He frowned as he counted the years. "Let me guess, it's terribly outdated."
"Your legal digests are almost thirty years old and I doubt that old desktop even has a modem."
"Yeah, sorry about that. I sort of left town quickly because you know—"
She nodded. "I know. Again, I'm so sorry. If you want to talk about her or really anything, let me know. I've spent years telling you about my problems. I guess I should do the same for you since we're friends."
"Friends?"
"Yes," She said. "I know through the years we've used the pretense of the whole client lawyer relationship. But come on, Ford, it's more than that. And I'm even calling you by your stupid name now. You've been there for me when no one else has, and you've been more than willing to help me with my crap."
"Love, I—"
"Is it that hard to admit that you might actually like me? I mean, you send me flowers every birthday and we exchange Christmas cards. That's a little bit more than the typical lawyer/client relationship."
If only she knew.
"Point taken," He said. "Okay then, friends."
She smiled. "Friends. And Ford."
"Yes?"
"Friends do dinner?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Dinner?"
"Yes," She said. "I think it might be nice, especially after I get used to living with this Harry guy. I have to have someone to vent to."
"I suppose you do." He said pleased that he had been invited to dinner, but not pleased that it was more than likely going to be a venting session against him.
Emma had Hermione tell him, that she was willing to work with him—Harry—and meet for coffee to discuss schematics. Apparently, she took Ford's advice on trying to be casual.
Not that Harry expected things to be casual. He frowned as he looked at his coffee. There had to be some magic that only Starbucks was privy to, to charge this much for a bad cup of caffeine.
"Um, Harry?"
He turned around to see Emma who was looking at him.
"Emma," He said. "Right on time."
She smiled tensely. "Yeah. To be honest, I almost called Ford and backed out of this. This is still a little hard for me to handle, that you're my—"
"Husband," He said. "I know. Ford told me as much. But I think we both agree that it's in Jaime's best interest that we stay married for now."
She nodded.
"It won't be that bad," He said. "I won't be in Storybrooke all the time. My job requires that I be in my home country for a large amount of time."
"What do you do?" Emma asked.
"I have a position in government," He said. "It's a lot of work."
She nodded. "I'm an ADA or was. I now work for Ford in Storybrooke."
"I know," Harry said. "He told me as much."
"God, this is so weird." Emma said. "Ford knows more information about us, than us."
"Well, it wasn't that way ten years ago." Harry said trying not to reach out and hold her hand. She knew she'd flinch or back away. He could see by the look on her face how uncomfortable she was.
Instead, he took an opportunity to take a sip of coffee.
"I can't help that I don't remember." He found Emma snapping at him.
He sighed heavily, "I know. And things hopefully will get better as we get together."
She nodded.
"So, tell me about Jaime?" He said.
"Henry." She said. "Or HJ as he prefers to be called."
"HJ," He said. "That's sort of ironic and confusing. My full name is Harry James Potter."
"Oh," She said. "So, so, that's how I probably thought James fit?"
"James was a family name."
His son's name.
Well, the name he took when he decided to no longer be called Baelfire. When he decided he wanted to forget him.
Oh, Bae.
There wasn't a day that passed that he didn't think about his son. Finding out about Jaime had only reopened that wound that never completely healed.
"Oh," She said. "Did we?"
"We never got around to thinking of names," He said.
She nodded. "I know, I know when I could start remembering things I didn't even know I was pregnant."
"Yeah, we were just wrapping around our heads that we were becoming parents ourselves. I remember how unreal it felt. We were going to do it though, you and me."
"I still can't believe I thought I could do that so young." Emma said, "A part of me wonders if I still can do it."
He raised an eyebrow.
"I'm a bit of a mess, obviously." She said.
"Emma," He said.
"That doesn't mean, I'm not going to fight though." She said, "I might know nothing about being a mother, but I do know that you don't call your kid a freak and give him a complex like that harpy."
"What—what did she call him?" Harry asked.
She sighed. "Regina calls him a freak."
Freak.
How many times had he heard that word in his life? Both of his lives. When your father abandoned you and the old spinners who were rumored to be witches raised you, freakish was often used to describe you. Same as when he came back from the war crippled. Only a freak would do that to himself, Milah would like to say. Oh, and how everyone always talked about the Dark One's freakish eyes. Then there was his dear Aunt Petunia and her family—needless to say, all Rumple felt was rage.
"And the state gave that woman our child?"
Emma sighed. "She is mayor of her town, and pretty respected from what I heard. Though, I am a little surprised myself."
"This will not do," Harry said.
"Obviously," Emma said. "But I don't think HJ is in any imminent harm. I mean, I don't think Regina would hurt him physically. That's why—that's why Ford said it would be best if we continued this charade."
"You think are marriage is a charade?" He heard himself asking.
The instant the words came out of his mouth, he regretted them. He knew that Emma hadn't given much thought to their marriage, she had told as much to "Ford". And why should she? Still hearing her tell him to his face that all they had was an illusion—hurt.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I should be consoling you right now, right?"
He didn't get a chance before she continued.
"Well, I can't. And before you go off on some little lengthy speech about how things will be different when I get back those memories. It's been ten years, a lot of shit has happened I won't be that Emma."
He was surprised at her reaction. Though, to be honest, he should've known better than trying to point out that anything else they had was more.
"Dear lord, I upset you, didn't I?" Emma said.
"Does it matter," Harry found himself saying. "This is after all a charade. A charade to get back our son. Now, let's talk about HJ. Since he's the only thing that matters."