Heartbeats

That little plus sign feels as if it's burned into her retinas. It's been exactly two months Neal's calloused fingertips tenderly caressed her wrist as he secured that damned watch on for her. Eighteen years old and serving a sentence that's not even her own, the young blonde barely pays the prison guard any attention.

Emma Swan is too engrossed within her thoughts. 'Why would Neal do this to her? What about Tallahassee? How on earth is she supposed to raise a baby? How can she be a good mother when she's never had one?' The thoughts are chaotic and full of self-doubt. The soft jingling of keys is what garners her attention and tear-filled aquamarine hues finally focus on something other than the pregnancy test in her hands. The keychain that Neal got for her causes a confused look to settle upon her features. "Looks like someone cares for you. Congratulations, Swan."

For the most part, Emma only emerges from her cell for mealtimes and when a social worker visits. Most of her time is spent reading books out loud. The pregnant blonde's voice is always soft with a lilting quality as her fingers rest over her abdomen. That is until the day she hears that tiny rapid fluttering heartbeat; Henry's heart.

It is that night, after lights out, that the blonde first address the tiny life growing within her. "You are really in there huh, Kid?" A soft little sob, one that is quickly muffled by a shaking hand over her lips, finally leaves Emma as the tight control on her emotions briefly cracks. "This will be the only time we have together, Kid. I don't know how to be a mother or even what a mother's love feels like... You won't remember me but I love you. That's why I'm giving you up for adoption, so you can have the life you deserve."

Each night, Emma, in vain, tells the tiny life she's carrying about Neal. "He just popped up out of the backseat and scared me. I hope you have your... Neal's eyes but you have to love hot chocolate." The tiny little kicks and nudges to her hand lifts Emma's lips up in a sad smile. "I miss him, your.. I miss Neal, Kid. I love him and I always will."