What's in a Name?
Disclaimer: I wish, but no, I don't own the characters/show.
"Emmy?"
"Oh god no."
"Fine. Em?"
"Better. I could deal with that, but only on special occasions."
"Duly noted."
"What on earth are you two talking about?" Charming pipes in, Henry rushing past him with his wooden sword sheathed on his belt, exuberantly hugging first Emma then Snow.
"Nicknames," Emma shrugs raising an eyebrow at her mother, "Apparently my real name isn't good enough."
"I never said that!" Snow shoots back, "All I wanted to know was if it was okay for us to call you anything else besides Emma."
"Oh how could I forget? You are big on the nicknames aren't you, dear?" he laughs, reaching out to wrap an arm around Snow's waist.
"That's right! That's how Grandpa became Charming!" Henry points out.
"Hey now, I was always charming!" he smirks, causing Snow to roll her eyes as Henry grins and Emma snickers.
"Oh like you're any better, Frosty!"
"Wait a minute, Frosty?" Emma gapes, her eyes speaking of only mischief that he instantly recognizes as one of Snow's looks. Snow, however, startles.
"How on earth- Oh don't tell me Red told you about that! She and I are going to have a little chat next time we-"
"Hey now, let Charming here finish-" Emma tries to interrupt, but Snow hastily cuts her off.
"Didn't you promise Henry an ice cream run after sword-fighting?"
"Yeah, you did Mom! Please?" Henry tugs on her sleeve, and the transformation his daughter makes at the sound of her son's plea is almost breathtaking.
"Ugh, fine, but don't think I won't get that story out of you later, Frosty," Emma smirks, and he can't suppress his chuckle before Snow elbows him hard in the ribs.
"You got it, Emmy," Snow smirks back, Emma's scowl returning in full force at the nickname before Henry tugged on her jacket again.
"C'mon Mom!"
"Okay, okay, we're going. Ice cream for Hank it is."
"Hank?"
"It's a nickname for 'Henry.'"
"Huh, I think I like kid better."
"You said it, kid," Emma laughs, the sound warming his heart as they disappear out the door.
"Frosty? Really, Charming?"
"What? You gotta admit it's funny!" he smiles; knowing if he quirks his lips just right she'll forgive him instantly.
Her eyes tell him it's worked this time too, but her expression also tells him she hasn't yet given up the fight. Time to change tactics.
"You really thought you could get away with calling Emma 'Emmy?'" he asks.
But she only sighs, her eyes no longer bright, and he wonders if he's mistepped even further.
"Snow?" he presses, wrapping his other arm around her, tilting his head to try and catch her gaze.
"I wanted to call her that when she was a baby. I didn't really think she'd accept it now but still-"
"Hey," he presses his forehead to hers, unable to stand the love of his life so upset, or the emptiness he feels in his own chest at her words.
"She might not want to be called that now, but she'll always be our Emmy, okay?"
She moves her head from his and nods, but its obvious that she remains unconvinced, her hands toying with the collar of his jacket.
"Oh c'mon, Frosty, don't be like that-"
He doesn't get to finish before she smacks him, and he laughs, swooping in for a kiss before she can protest any more.
Frosty or Snow it doesn't matter, she melts into his arms all the same, and that matters more than any name.