A/N: Hey everybody. I'm not as happy with this chapter as I was with the last one, but I kind of wanted to write this one, so here you go. Leave your reviews.
And to the one who asked about Emma's ships on the show and me including them: I don't know yet, actually. My favorite Emma ship really wouldn't work here, so I really don't know.
Enjoy! And there might be two next week because I'm on spring break.
Thanks all,
Emma.
It was dark in the castle, undoubtedly the middle of the night. For a reason he wasn't quite sure of, Charming lay awake, chest bare and uncover with his wife's arm draped over it, her curled into his side. Her growing belly touched his side, and his wife was about ready to pop. There were to have a child soon, and just the thought of it made him smile.
Snow shifted against his side, and when Charming glanced, he saw how deep a sleep she was in. He knew exactly what that meant.
"No..." She was talking in her sleep, and he quickly rolled over to his side. "My baby..."
"Snow." He gently tried to wake her, touching her face, which was cold with sweat.
"My baby!" Her speaking was adamant until she shrieked, her eyes flying open and her chest heaving up and down quickly with her hurried breath. She protectively touched her stomach, a tear running down her face.
"You're alright, Snow, I'm here." He held her face in his hands for a moment before turning to light the candle on their bedside table. It was a thing of theirs, to make the nightmares go away.
"That was awful." Snow whispered as she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck.
"You're safe, I promise." He kissed her temple. "You and that little one."
They sat with their arms wrapped around each other until settling in again, laid back in their bed.
"Can you sleep now?" Charming asked. He felt Snow's shrug against his chest.
"Maybe. I'm quite awake now though."
"I have an idea then."
"Oh?"
"Have we thought of names for this little one yet?" He touched her stomach with a smile.
And that sparked hours upon hours of conversation. They talked until the sun poured in their windows.
"Eric?" James suggested boy name after boy name, Snow smiling because he still didn't know.
"No."
"You've shot down all of my names." Her husband whined. Snow chuckled.
"They're just not her name." She said with a smirk.
"Her?"
"Yes." Snow smiled. Charming's lips crashed into hers.
"Then what is her name?" James pulled Snow closer to him, twisting the wedding ring on Snow's finger. She turned to make eye contact.
"Emma." She grinned proudly. "He name is Emma."
That was the night that came to mind when Charming couldn't sleep, just like tonight. It was the night they had named their daughter. Snow curled up into his side as he played with her hair that tickled his chest. He felt like he was about to finally fall asleep when he heard little footsteps and sniffling outside, and the five year old girl who opened the door had tears streaming down her face.
"Papa?" She was quiet when she spoke with a sniffle and a quivering lip. He sat up and opened his arms.
"Oh, Emma, come here." He said, and she ran and threw her arms around his neck. "Did you have a nightmare?"
"Yes." She said into his neck as he smoothed down her hair and let her cry.
"Do you want to sleep in here with Mama and me?"
"Can I?" Emma pulled her head up to meet her father's eyes. He nodded, pulling her to him again.
"Of course."
Before he could place her in between himself and Snow, his wife stirred awake and sat up.
"Emma?" She said sleepily.
"Hi, Mama." She sniffled. Snow reached up a d wiped a tear from her daughter's face as her husband mouthed the word "nightmare." Snow frowned as she laid Emma down next to her. "Bad dream?"
"Mhm." Her lip quivered. "It was really really scary..."
Charming leaned over and lit the candle next to their bed, the one he kept around for nights like this.
"Well, here." He said. "This will catch the nightmare so that you can go back to sleep."
"If I fall asleep," Emma's voice was small and timid. "Will the nightmares come back?"
"No, angel." Charming laid back down as Emma snuggled close to his body, like she was looking for him to protect her from something. "You can sleep now, it's okay."
"Okay, Papa." Emma closed her eyes. "I love you. I love you too, Mama."
"We love you." Her parents said at the same time. Soon enough, she allowed her body to rest again. Once she was asleep, Snow made eye contact with her husband, looking like a worried mother.
"She was really afraid." She whispered.
"She's strong." He nodded. "She's one of us, isn't she?" Snow nodded with a sleepy smile as she yawned and shut her eyes, letting the sleep consume her again.
Emma was one of them. It was quite the sign of strength, bravery, Charming thought to himself. He knew they one day, however, she would grow up to be the strongest and most noble he ever knew.
A/N: I really want to hear from you guys and know what you want to see next, whether it be a younger Emma, and older Emma, more interaction with Emma and Red, or Emma and one of her parents, maybe both-whatever you guys want. I would really like to hear from all of you.
If I don't get a chapter up before the holiday, I would like to wish all of those who celebrate a happy and safe Easter. And for those who don't, I wish you a happy day of movie marathons and half priced jellybeans.
Have a good one,
Emma.
