Minor spoilers for parts of season 4A. Takes place after 4x10 Shattered Sight.

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon A Time.

Mom

"Mom?" Emma called as she entered the loft. "You home?"

"Over here, Sweetheart."

Emma followed the soft voice to the corner where her mother sat curled up on the sofa reading. She couldn't make out what it was, but from the look on Snow's face, it wasn't anything good.

"What are you-Oh..." she trailed off when she realised what it was. Her file, the one Ingrid had kept on her, sat open on the sofa and her mother's eyes were glued to the greeting card she'd shown Killian. "Uh...um, where did you get that?"

"I stole it from your desk the day you showed us the video." the brunette responded without looking up.

Emma didn't know whether to be annoyed, angry, or amused but she'd heard the sad note in Snow's voice and chose to let it go. Instead, she lifted the file and sat beside her mother, bumping shoulders as she did.

"You know that doesn't mean anything, right?"

"Of course, it means something, Emma." Snow finally looked up and Emma could see unshed tears in her eyes. "You were happy with Ingrid, you had a family, even if it was only for a little while."

"I was happy," Emma said softly, recalling her newly returned memories. "But it wasn't real."

"Emma-"

"No, let me finish. I know that Ingrid loved me in her own way and I loved her, too. But it was never real. It was all based on a prophesy. She loved me for what I could bring her, not for who I am. I see that now." Emma paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "You accepted me and believed in me before you even knew I was your daughter. You have no idea how much that meant, means to me."

"I loved you the moment I found out I was carrying you." Snow gave a watery smile as she placed an arm around Emma's shoulder, pulling her close.

"Exactly. You love me, not what I can do for you. That's the difference." Emma rested her head on Snow's shoulder, taking in her calming scent. "And no matter what Ingrid thought, I never thought of her as a mother. You're the only person I've ever called Mom. You're my mother and nothing anyone does can change that."

"Thank you, Emma."

"For what?"

"For being you." Snow leant over and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you letting me be me and for being my mom." Emma smiled sheepishly and squeezed her mother in a hug once before standing, stopping when Snow spoke up.

"Can I keep these?" Snow indicated the file full of school projects.

"Sure." Emma smiled indulgently. "Just don't let them end up on the refrigerator."

"No promises."

Emma rolled her eyes but decided not to argue. She'd never win against Snow White, anyway. "I'm going to bed. Got a long day tomorrow."

"Good night, Emma. I love you."

"I love you, too, Mom." Emma smiled shyly one last time before heading up the stairs to her room.

The next morning, Emma awoke to find some of her paintings taking up most of the refrigerator. She knew she should be annoyed but couldn't find it in herself to do so. For the first time in her life, she had someone who was proud of her accomplishments, no matter how trivial they seemed. She had someone who didn't expect anything more than for her to be herself, and it was the best feeling in the world.

The End