"Miss Swan, you must focus for this to work." Rumple said irritably. "It shouldn't be too difficult. All you're doing is moving the big hand round the clock backwards four times."
"It's not like I'm not trying!" Emma snapped. She was getting fed up of Rumple acting all high and mighty; she certainly knew where she wanted to put that big hand… Rumple sighed impatiently.
"Just focus, Miss Swan. I know you can do this." Emma rolled her eyes and stared at the clock.
"Ok," She thought. "Just move it back, Emma." She couldn't help but give a small smile.
"If only I could really turn the clock back, ay?" Gold's eyes widened in horror.
"No!" But it was too late. As the clock hands spun backwards around the clock, Emma began to get smaller. She landed on the floor with a thud.
The little girl looked at herself, the clothes she had on were far too big, and she didn't know where she was. She looked up and saw a scary looking man looking down at her, he looked mad.
"Um… are you my new foster daddy?" she asked timidly.
"No." He said gruffly. He pointed to a chair. "Go sit there, I'm going to make a phone call for someone to come and get you." Emma looked down at her clothes again, she was pretty sure she couldn't walk in these, she'd trip up or they'd fall down.
"I don't think I can mister, these are too big." Emma raised her little arms, showing the sleeves drooping off her. Rumple gave another impatient sigh.
"Just sit there then, don't move."
Snow and David were literally just in the door from dropping off Henry at Regina's for the weekend when the phone started ringing.
"I'll get it," Snow said, rushing to answer it. "Henry's probably forgotten something… Hello?" She answered. David saw her face scrunch up in confusion.
"Who?" He mouthed at her, guessing correctly that it wasn't Henry.
"Rumple." She mouthed back, before putting her finger to her lips so she could listen to what he was saying. "What? But how?... Is she alright?... What size?... We'll be right over, keep her safe." Snow hung up on Rumple, looked at her husband and grinned.
"Is Emma alright?" David asked concerned. Snow nodded, grabbing her keys. "She's fine. It seems our little girl needs us to pick her up." Snow let out a little giggle.
"What's so funny about that, she could be hurt Snow!" David said, not understanding how his wife could find this so funny.
"Trust me, she's fine. I'll leave it as a nice surprise for you. Come on, I've got to pick something up for her on the way." David looked and saw Snow hadn't lifted her car keys.
"Aren't we driving?" He asked. Snow shook her head.
"We might have a problem getting Emma back in the car today. Just trust me, come on." She grabbed David's hand and they left, David still feeling concerned.
Snow made David wait outside as she went into the little shopping mall in town. She came out about ten minutes later, and kept the contents of the bag a total secret. Snow's grin widened the closer they got to Rumple's shop. She gave David's hand a squeeze. "Trust me, you'll like this… Once you're over the shock." Then, they stepped inside. David's eyes swept the whole store until he saw a little girl, with very familiar blonde curls and green eyes… His eyes widened in realisation.
"Emma?" He chocked. The little girl moved back a little.
"How do you know my name?" She asked, a little scared. David turned to Rumple.
"What happened to her?" He asked.
"I was trying to get her to move the clock hand backwards. Unfortunately Miss Swan seems to have concentration issues and started to think about literally turning the clock back and… well you can see for yourself. Don't worry, I believe as we were only trying to move it back two days that's how long the effects will last." Emma didn't understand any of that. Effects of what? She gave a little cry and the woman looked at her, Emma hadn't ever been looked at like that before, this lady looked like she might actually care. The woman walked slowly over to her, and crouched down beside her. She reached out and wiped the tear off Emma's cheek.
"Emma, it's alright honey. I'm here. I'll look after you."
"Are you my new foster mommy? Is that how you know my name?" She whimpered. Snow turned and looked at Rumple who shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know how much of this she'll remember when the effects wear off. I don't see any harm in telling her, either way." Snow nodded and turned back towards Emma, and shook her head.
"Not your foster mommy, sweetheart. I'm your real mommy." Emma shook her head.
"No, my real parents didn't want me." She said sadly. Snow couldn't resist the urge any longer, she scooped little Emma up and held her close.
"No, my sweet baby. That's not true! We had to give you away to keep you safe… It's a very long story, but please, believe mommy when she says giving you up was the hardest thing she ever had to do." Emma looked straight into Snow's eyes, as though she was staring into her very soul. She stared for a few moments before nodding.
"I believe you." And then she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Snow. Snow's heart leapt for joy. David made his way over to the pair. Emma looked up from Snow's shoulder and looked at him.
"So… are you my daddy?" She asked. A tear escaped his eye as he nodded.
"That's right, baby." Emma reached her little arms out for David to take her, which he did happily, swinging her around. But as he did, Emma's old jeans fell off her. The little girl giggled, causing her parents to join in the laughter.
"Come on you," Snow said, taking Emma from David. "Momma will help you get changed."
"Ok!" She said brightly. Both Snow and David couldn't believe she'd taken to the situation so well. As an adult Emma was still struggling to adapt to having parents, but as a little girl, going from family to family was still her reality. It was just this time she didn't have to leave- ever. Snow carried Emma to the little back room with the outfit she'd bought her. It was a very pretty light green dress, with a little flower on it. She'd decided she might as well go all out and got her some pretty little tights, some cute dolly shoes and even a brush and some bobbles with plastic butterflies on them.
"Do you like pigtails?" She asked her once she'd put the dress on her. Rumple had asked Emma while they were on the phone what age she was so Snow knew what size to get her. She told him she was three, Rumple put it down to that being the age she most wanted her parents. Emma nodded at her, and Snow smiled, putting the pigtails gently in her hair. She didn't even realise she was humming until Emma pointed it out.
"You're good at pigtails, momma." Emma said matter of factly. Snow finished off and turned her around.
"Well, aren't you just the most pretty girl in the world?" She said affectionately. Emma shrugged.
"I think you're prettier, momma." Emma said, putting her hand on her mother's cheek. Snow picked her up and planted a kiss on her temple.
"I couldn't be more beautiful than you if I tried my little angel. Now come on, let's show your daddy how gorgeous his girl is." Emma blushed and gave a cute little grin that melted Snow's heart.
David turned when he heard the door shut behind Snow. Emma was attached to her hip… in a dress? He raised his eyebrow at Snow, who shrugged at him.
"I figure I may as well enjoy dressing her up while I can. Doesn't she look pretty, daddy?" Snow said. David couldn't help but smile with pride at being called daddy.
"She always look pretty, mommy." He replied. Snow set her down. David bent down with his arms held out, which Emma quickly ran in to. She squealed in delight as David tossed her in the air. He held her close to his chest and nodded at Rumple.
"Thank you for looking after her." He said. Rumple nodded back.
"It was no trouble. Enjoy this while it lasts." He said, before returning to behind the counter. Emma patted her father's cheek. David looked at her; she was staring at the ground, embarrassed.
"Daddy…" She said timidly. "Can I go home on your shoulders?" David beamed at her.
"Anything for my princess." He said, lifting her up over his head. Snow couldn't imagine a more perfect moment in the world. "Come on then kiddo," David said, let's get you home."
When they got in, Snow gave Emma a tour of the little apartment, finished off in Emma's room.
"This WHOLE bed is mine?" She asked in awe. Snow nodded.
"Uh huh, all yours big girl." Emma let go of Snow's hand and jumped on the bed, bouncing on it. She giggled with delight. Snow caught her mid-jump and twirled her around the room. "You be careful, missy! We don't wanna have to take you to the hospital do we?" Emma grinned and shook her head. Snow kissed her forehead, the chance to kiss her little girl took away some of the pain she'd felt since the curse had been broken. "Come on you, let's go downstairs and have some lunch."
By five pm Snow and David were exhausted. They'd tried to pack a whole childhood into one day, along with Snow taking pictures every millisecond. Snow could see Emma drooping on the couch, where she was snuggled up with David watching some cartoons.
"Right little lady," She said, pretending to be stern. "I think it's time for a bath, a story and bed." Emma turned and pouted at her.
"But I'm not tired." She said. As if on cue, Emma gave a great yawn.
"Oh really? Come on, momma and daddy will both help with your bath, and giving you the story, and tucking you in." Emma seemed to think this through.
"Promise?" She asked. Snow marked a cross over her heart.
"I promise. Now come on, you can help me put the bubbles in." Emma stretched out her tired little arms and Snow walked over and gathered her up. "Are you sure you can walk, Emma? Because you seemed to have spent an awful lot of today being picked up." She said jokingly, she didn't mind, she knew this time was precious.
Snow and David loved giving Emma her bath. They loved the way she splashed around, loved the way she scooped up the bubbles in wonder. Loved that when she was finished they could scoop her up in a big fluffy towel and just look in wonder at how cute she looked. Snow had forgotten to get her some pyjamas, so Emma picked out one of Snow's tops and wore it as a nightdress. They got her all tucked up in her bed with her baby blanket and sat either side of her. They had discussed quickly whilst Emma was colouring in that it might not be a bad plan to try and tell her why she was left in the form of a story.
"Once upon a time," Snow began, rubbing soothing circles on Emma's back.
"There lived a very beautiful princess, and a handsome knight." David continued.
"They were very much in love. But there was a very sad woman who was jealous of their love, and wanted to make them unhappy. So when she found out that they were going to have a baby, she made a very nasty spell to take everyone away to somewhere where they wouldn't be happy." Snow shuddered at the memory, but was determined to not let Emma see her sadness.
"The princess and the knight knew that they had to keep their baby safe from the woman, so a plan was made for the baby and its parents to go through a magical wardrobe so they wouldn't be affected by the spell. But sadly, the wardrobe could only take one, so only the mommy with the baby still in her tummy would be able to go." David held back the tears here; for that was the moment he knew he wouldn't see his baby grow up, no matter what happened.
"So the wardrobe was getting made, and the mommy was getting bigger and bigger as the baby was nearly ready to come out. And then something very sad happened, the little baby came out a bit earlier than she was expected. The wardrobe wasn't ready until it was too late, so the little baby had to go through alone, and her parents were very sad." Snow leaned in closer to Emma. "But you know what?" She whispered.
"What?" Emma asked.
"That baby found her mommy and daddy again, and she's lying in this bed." Snow looked at them both with wide eyes.
"Is that story about me?" She asked. Snow and David nodded.
"Yes, baby. And it's all true." David said, putting a strand of Emma's hair behind her head.
"So… I'm a princess?" Emma asked. Snow couldn't help but laugh. They'd just told her she came from a totally different world, and that her parents couldn't come here with her but she found them anyway and what she took from it was that she was a princess.
"Yes you are my dear, and do you know what princesses need lots of?" Emma shook her head. "Sleep." Snow answered, pulling the quilt up to Emma's chin. "Good night, my little princess. I love you." Snow whispered. Emma gave another little yawn and nuzzled down.
"I love you too, momma. And you, daddy…" She said, drifting off. Both Snow and David kissed her cheek and quietly crept out of the room.
When they too were in bed, Snow settled into her husband's arms contentedly.
"This has been the best day since her birth." Snow whispered, placing her head on David's chest. He nodded beside her.
"I know. It's so good to feel like a proper father, even if it is just for the weekend. It's just as well she done this on a weekend where Henry's with Regina. I'm not sure how he'd react to seeing his mom as a little girl." David chuckled.
"And it keeps Regina out of the way as well. We know she'd never let Emma forget it if she saw her in a dress and pigtails." Snow smiled, whether Regina would find it hilarious or not, she thought Emma looked adorable. David gave another little chuckle.
"Right, we'd better get some sleep too, I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day." David said. Snow snuggled down into his chest.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Snow awoke with a jolt when she heard a small thud. She heard what sounded like someone dragging something. She shook David's shoulder.
"David, wake up." She hissed. He started to come too groggily. "David, I think someone's in here." With a pang, she remembered. "Emma." Snow choked. That was it, they were both up in a flash and sprinting into the little hallway. They heard Emma give a scared little cry, and instantly turned her head in her direction. But she was standing there alone, dragging her bedding behind her.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I- I couldn't help it! Please don't send me away again!" Snow put two and two together.
"Oh Emma, come here sweetie." She said, bending down with her arms spread wide. Emma instantly dropped her bedding and ran straight into her mother's arms, crying hysterically. Snow shushed her, stroking through her hair.
"Hey, hey. It's alright Emma, it was just a little accident, it's no big deal!" Emma had stopped crying and began to hiccup.
"So you want send me away?" She sniffed.
"Oh honey no! I just got you back; I'm never letting you out of my sight again. Now here's what's going to happen, daddy's going to get you another one of momma's tops to wear while I clean you up. And then you can come and spend the rest of the night in our bed and we can clean yours in the morning, ok?"
"Ok." The little girl sniffed back. So Snow carried her off to the bathroom whilst David went to their room and grabbed one of Snow's tops. He came into the room just as Snow was finishing drying Emma off. As he slipped the top over her head, he saw that she was already starting to nod off again.
"Come on baby," He whispered, picking her up. "Let's go to bed." David carried her gently to their room. He tried to put her down in the middle of the bed, just she wouldn't let go of his shirt. She shook her head in his shoulder. David looked to Snow for reassurance. She smiled lovingly at him.
"Looks like she wants her daddy. If she's quite happy there, just leave her." David slowly got into the bed, Emma now sleeping soundly on his torso.
"What if I roll over and hurt her?" He asked, afraid. Snow reached out and touched his arm.
"You won't, its instinct." She slid closer to them both, rubbing circles on Emma's back. David looked back at the little girl as her chest was slowing rising up and down in time with her breathing. He gave a sad little smile. Every parent complained that their child grew up too fast, he was only getting the weekend until his daughter for twenty eight again, and she probably wouldn't remember anything. He stroked her cheek affectionately as he looked across at Snow, who'd fallen asleep with her arm resting on Emma's back. He kissed both their heads as he settled down, feeling more peaceful than he had in a long time.
David could feel the light pouring into the room as he woke up the next morning. He immediately felt the loss of Emma's weight on his torso. He looked to the side and smiled. There she was, curled into Snow who had her arms tightly around her. He quietly reached for the camera and took a picture; he knew Snow would appreciate that. He put the camera back on the bedside table and caught sight of the time on the alarm clock. He shrugged his shoulders, half seven wasn't too early to get up and make pancakes for his girls. As quietly as possible, he slipped out of bed and went down to the kitchen. David was no master cook, but pancakes he could do. He even made them cinnamon ones, because he knew they both had a slight cinnamon addiction.
When he was finished, he put them on a tray with a mug of coffee for him (he had a feeling he'd need it after yesterday) and two mugs of hot chocolate with cinnamon for Snow and Emma on a table tray and carried them upstairs.
"Rise and shine ladies," He said cheerily. "Breakfast is served." They both pushed themselves up the bed, and Emma gave the air a little sniff.
"Cinnamon?" She asked hopefully. David nodded setting the tray down on the bed.
"Yup, it's in both the hot chocolates and the pancakes. Dig in! Careful though, baby, it's still really hot." Snow flashed David his favourite smile.
"Thank you daddy." She said, giving him a little wink.
"How did you know I liked cinnamon daddy?" Emma asked, looking at her father in total awe.
"Well," He said, picking her up after she finished her last pancake.
"That's a special daddy secret. Daddies get special cool powers like that when they become a daddy." He said, throwing her in the air. She gave that little giggle that made him burst with joy.
"You're the best daddy ever." She said, snuggling into him. He looked across at Snow, who had her hand over her heart with the sweetness of the moment.
The day passed all too quickly for David and Snow. They loved the adult Emma, and knew Henry needed her, but a chance to be proper parents was so nice.
"Momma…" Emma piped up during her bath.
"Yes, beautiful?"
"Can I come to bed with you and daddy again?" Snow sighed and looked at her daughter, who was giving her those big puppy dog eyes. If it wasn't for the fact that by the time she woke up tomorrow, she'd be an adult Snow wouldn't have minded, but she wasn't sure a fully grown Emma would appreciate being snuggled in bed with her parents.
"Not tonight, baby." Snow said sadly. "You'll see why in the morning. Daddy and I will still tell you a story and tuck you in. We'll even stay in the room until you fall asleep." Emma seemed to accept this as a fair compromise. Snow got her out of the bath, dried and put her in one of Emma's little nightdresses so she was in her own clothes when she woke up. Even then it was far too long.
"Silly mommy," Emma giggled. "I can't wear this, it's too big!" Snow gave her daughter a watery smile.
"I know, sweetheart," She said, stroking her cheek. "I know mommy and daddy are acting really weird tonight, and you're not to worry, it has nothing to do with you. You've been a really good girl." Emma placed her hand on top of her mother's.
"You're not sending me back, are you?" She whimpered. The look in her eyes was too much to take for Snow. How much heartache could her baby have been through when she still so little? She picked Emma up and cradled her close.
"No, goodness no Emma! You are never leaving us again, ok?"
"Ok." Emma snivelled into her shoulder.
"Come on, daddy's waiting to tell you another story." Snow carried the little girl to her bed, and sat her down on it in between her parents. Instantly, Emma burrowed down in the bed and looked towards her dad, eagerly awaiting her story.
"Ok princess, once upon a time…" David proceeded to tell his daughter the story of how he and her mother met and eventually got married. He edited a few of the details to avoid giving her nightmares. By the time he had finished telling her the story, Emma's eyelids were starting to droop, but she was refusing to sleep. Snow had a suspicion that this was because Emma knew when she fell asleep her parents would leave. Snow decided it was her turn to try something. She started to stroke Emma's cheek as she sang her a lullaby.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns to brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that…" Snow looked down to see that Emma could fight sleep no more and had drifted off. A tear escaped her eye as she kissed her goodnight. "Whatever you do or do not remember, please Emma, remember that I love you with all my heart." David too said goodnight before they both quietly crept out the room. As soon as they were in the hall, Snow flung herself into her husband's arms.
"Snow, it's alright-"
"No David, it's not alright!" Snow cried. "Every time we get her back, we lose her again and each time it's a little harder to pull myself back together!" David held his wife at arm's length.
"But we're not losing her this time. Yes, she won't be a child anymore and that hurts. But she'll still be here, with us. We can still be her parents. More importantly than that, she can be Henry's parent. He needs his mom, Snow. It would be wrong of us to take her away from him." Snow raised her sleeve to her eyes and hastily wiped the tears away.
"You're right, I'm just being silly." She sniffed.
"No, you're not being silly. You're being a mom. No mom finds their baby growing up easy, it's just that little harder for us because we only got one weekend. But we'll get through this together. For Emma and Henry, they still need us." Snow nodded.
"Let's just go to bed, the quicker I'm asleep, the better." David understood and turned towards their room. Just before following him, Snow put her hand against the wood of Emma's bedroom door. "Goodnight, baby girl." She whispered, before going to her own room to cry herself to sleep.
Snow awoke the next morning to what she thought was David stretching out across the bed. When she heard a high pitched scream, she turned round in shock.
"What am I doing in your bed?" Emma screamed. By this point David was awake too, and was staring at Snow, wondering what to say to Emma.
"You must have sneaked into our room again last night…" She moaned, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Again? What do you mean again? I've never been in your bed before! What's going on?" Emma shrieked. Emma went to dash from the room, but Snow caught her wrist and pulled her back to the edge of the bed.
"Emma, you need to calm down." Snow said calmly. "I'll explain everything that's happened, and some of the questions might seem a little strange, but just trust me, ok?" Snow closed her eyes for a second, steadying herself. What she was about to ask Emma meant accepting that Emma's childhood really was as bad as it seemed. "Can you remember when you last had a foster family that really loved you?" Emma looked at her mother, totally confused.
"I don't see what that has to do with-"
"Please Emma, just answer it!" Snow interrupted, needing to know if Emma remembered.
"Alright, I'll answer it!" Emma took a moment to remember before replying. "I can't remember exactly how old I was, only that I was pretty young. There were no other kids, just me. They really treated me like I was special. I can't remember much, so I don't think I stayed with them for long. All I really remember is this cute little green dress the mom had got me…"
"You mean this green dress?" Snow said, handing Emma the camera. Emma looked at the picture, then up at her parents.
"But that's… How did…" She stuttered, unable to finish her sentence. Snow moved her hand from Emma's wrist to her shoulder.
"If you go look in your closet, it's still hanging up in there." She told her. Emma sprinted from the room but came back a moment later with the dress. She traced the little flower on the front with her finger lightly.
"How is this even possible?"
"Do you remember having a magic lesson with Rumple?" David asked her. Emma nodded, her eyes still fixed on the dress. "Do you remember him asking you to turn back the hands of the clock?" Emma nodded again. "Well, you may have literally turned them back. It's Monday morning now. You've spent the weekend with us as a three year old." David said, nervous of her reaction. Emma didn't know what to think. How could this all have happened?
"I need some air… I'll be back before Henry gets dropped off."
"Emma honey, wait!" Snow called, but Emma had already left the room. Snow turned to David. "Should we go after her?" David shook his head.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Snow. She needs time to understand what this means." Snow couldn't help but agree, but that didn't make the wait any easier.
About forty minutes later, Emma tried to slip into the house as silently as possible, but she wasn't silent enough.
"Emma?" She heard her mom's worried voice. Emma turned and looked at her, she could see that her parents had clearly been worried for her, she sighed in frustration, cursing herself for upsetting them.
"I spoke to Rumple," She muttered. "He explained to me what happened. I think I can get the hang of having control over the different ages. And Henry's at Regina's every second weekend so you could have a go at all my ages if you want…"
"Sorry, what?" Snow said, surprised. She was sure Emma would have told them to forget that the weekend had ever happened. Emma wasn't very good with emotional stuff, so this was really hard for her. But she tried again. "I know it was hard for all three of us that we never got to be a family. And I can't give you my whole childhood back- but I can give you little snippets, as well as new memories for me that'll make me think I grew up happy." Emma shrugged her shoulders. "Seemed like a win win situation." Snow rushed forward and held her daughter in a tight embrace. David wasn't far behind, making it a group hug. Emma let out a little chuckle.
"What's so funny?" David asked. Emma laughed a little harder.
"Well, you're having a go at all my ages, right?" They both nodded, wondering where this was going. "Have fun with my teenage years, if you think I'm stubborn now wait until you see me then."
"I'm sure we'll manage." Snow sniggered. David didn't look so sure. Just then the door flew open.
"Hey guys, did you have a-"Henry just then noticed the group hug. His face scrunched up in confusion. "What did I miss?" Emma laughed as she pulled out of her parents' embrace and ruffled his hair.
"Honestly kid, I couldn't really tell you." Snow and David burst into fits of laughter at this. "Why don't you go on upstairs and dump your stuff. You can tell us what you did over your weekend when you get back." Emma said quickly before he got into a full flow of questions. She didn't want the kid traumatised for life! He grabbed his backpack from the floor and sprinted up the stairs. While she had the chance, Snow cupped Emma's cheek.
"No matter what age you are, you know that we will always love you. You know that right?" She asked Emma. Emma nodded, feeling the tears build up. David reached over and kissed her head.
"And you'll always be our little princess, no matter what you soak your mother's tops with." Snow gave him a harsh elbow to the ribs.
"What did I soak your top with?" Emma asked apprehensively.
"Nothing, it doesn't matter. Your father is just being silly." Snow gave David a very pointed look, he now regretted saying anything. Emma gave a nervous laugh; she was now fairly certain she didn't want to know. But she did know that no matter how awkward things sometimes got in her house, they would always be a family.
Well, hope you liked :) (especially you, QuillAnnie!) If you have any one shot ideas to keep me busy until I start uni please lemme know! :)
