A/N: Hey, so… First I want to apologize, this semester was hectic and it was impossible for me to keep writing, adding it to the fact that I got stuck on how to write my ideas for the story, so if anyone has an idea, a comment, or a constructive criticism, feel free to review. Now that I'm on vacation I'll try to post as soon as possible. Then again, sorry for the long wait. Hope you're still interested in this story. Please review!
After some bribing with an ice cream cone after lunch, Emma used the booster seat in the ride to Granny's, but the deal was off if she started with an attitude and made a fuss about it. So she really tried to be a compliant as she could. So the whole ride was very quiet, Snow thought it was because Emma was mad but actually, Emma was very concentrated planning a way to get to Mr. Gold's shop from the diner without anyone noticing.
As Snow helped Emma out of the car seat she asked.- "Everything okay, Em?
"Yeah of course"- Emma smiled not wanting to get caught. "Am I getting that ice cream?"- she said in the most charming smile she could pull out.
"We'll see"- Snow teased not wanting to laugh.
They were in their usual booth waiting for David, so they could order together.
"Emma, remember what happened this morning?"- Snow asked her daughter who was sitting in front of her.
"Yes"- Emma said in low voice playing with a napkin.
"what are you going to say to your dad?"
"That I'm sorry"- she mumbled. In that exact moment, the diner door opened, she turned around to see who it was and it was her dad, she sunk a little bit in her seat. He took seat next to Snow.
"Hey girls, how is it going?"- giving Snow a quick kiss.
"Emma"- Snow said at noticing that her daughter was avoiding looking at them
"Hi dad, hmmm about this morning, I'm sorry"- Emma said in a quiet voice
"That's okay honey, you know why we are doing it, right?"- David said in a soft and loving voice.
"Because it's not safe"
"Exactly, we just want to protect you kiddo"- he reached across the table and grabbed her hand. Emma just smiled at him, relieved that he wasn't mad at her.
"Are we ready to order?"- Ruby came by- "the usual?"
"yes, please"- the three answered in unison, and laughed about it.
"and how about drinks"
"a dr. pepper"
"Maybe a lemonade, Emma?"- her mom didn't wanted her all pumped full of sugar.
"but I want a soda!"- Emma whined, not wanting to sound childish but she just did.
"well maybe then the ice cream it's not an option anymore"- Snow threaten
"ugh fine, a lemonade"- Emma grumbled, can't believe I'm being controlled over an ice cream! need to change, now! shall I try it now? or later?, now or never. - "I'm going to the bathroom, be right back"
"okay, do you need help?"- Snow asked
"Mom! I can do it myself!"- she said turning red and stomping to the bathroom. Both of her parents only chuckled.
It was a relief that her parents were seated with their backs to the bathroom, so they couldn't see her get out through the back door. She peeked over the door frame to look if anybody was watching, or if Red was nearby, and she saw her chance, and ran out the door. She hide behind the bushes, and waited for the street to clear a little, and search for anyone she should avoid. The coast was clear so she ran to Gold's, she opened the door and shut it right behind her.
"I heard about your little problem Miss Swan"- Gold made an input in little, just making fun of her.
"Cut it Gold, I want you to change me back"- she cut to the chase
"Really dearie? is that what you really want?"
"Of course I do, now what do you want"
"I'm not sure I want to help you, besides, we like better it this way"- Gold sure was going to help, but for his own good. He need her like this.
"Just do it, what do you want? a favor?"- Emma was now scared that she was alone.
But before Gold could say anything the door burst open, with a very angry looking Regina.
"Stay away from her, Gold"- Regina hissed, stepping in front of Emma.
"Hey no harm done here, not yet anyway, she came all by herself"- he knew this wasn't the moment so he went to the back of the shop.
Regina didn't leave an eye off of him till he disappeared. Then turned around to see Emma.
"Hey Regina, good seeing you, bye"- Emma didn't want any problems, and she needed to get back to her parents before they found out, but by the look Regina was giving her, that was no longer an option. She turned around to run back to the diner, but Regina caught her arm.
"Not so fast Emma, what the hell are you doing here"- Regina asked in dangerous tone.
"Nothing, let me go"- she tried to take back her arm.
"I don't think that's an option, come on"- Regina dragged her out of there and started walking to the diner. Emma tried to pull off of her, making a fuss, almost a tantrum.
When they arrived to the diner, her parents and all of the people that were there, were already forming search parties to look for her. But when they saw her, all of their faces relaxed, but just two of them turn in stern looks. Her parent's faces.
"I believe this is yours"- Regina said as she picked Emma up and placed her back in her place in the booth.
"Thank you Regina, where was she?"- David asked with his arms crossed and not taking his eyes off Emma.
"Care to share, Miss Swan"- Regina looked at her with her hands on her hips.
Emma just sunk into her seat not meeting anyone's sight.
"She was with Gold, I was on my way to the office when I walked pass the shop and saw from outside the window that Emma was there"- Regina explained.
"Emma ,what were you thinking"- Snow hissed
"We were worried, why were you talking to Gold?"- David asked as they both sat down on the other side of the booth, and Regina next to her.
"I want to change back okay! I'm tired of all of you treating me like a child!"- Emma almost yelled, earning looks from everyone in the diner.
"Lower your voice"- Snow said in a warning tone, she felt embarrassed at all the eyes on them.- "and you know the only way to change it's to wait, we've been through this"
"And don't you think it was dangerous going to Gold?"- David continued
"Actually I'm worried about that"- Regina interrupted - "He said something, that no harm was done, just not yet. He's planning something"
Snow and David looked at each other in fear and then landed their eyes on Emma, like hell they were going to let him hurt her.
"I thought he was just bluffing"- Emma said in quiet voice
"What was that?"- David asked
Emma looked up to him and gulped, he will not like this. "He said he didn't wanted to help me, because he like me better this way".
"what can possibly he can get out of it, with you being like this?"- Snow asked in fear.
"She's no longer a threat to him"- Regina answered - "He can do anything, without the saviour intervening"- she got it in a second, because that's exactly what she'll do if she ever was in that situation, taking out your enemy out of the equation for good.
"But I still have magic, whatever he plans, I'll stop him"- Emma defended herself
"Yeah? and how's that been working for you? how many times have you fainted or gone pale because of using it?"- Regina asked with a sarcastic tone.
"That's why you were pale this morning? you were using your magic isn't?"- Snow remember the incident in the morning -"when you came out of the bathroom"
Emma just avoid their looks, which that gave her away.
Snow just rubbed her temples.
"Emma"- Snow said her name with a long sigh
"We talked about this, Emma"- David told her off.
"I'm sorry, okay? I just want to be me again"- she said with an attitude
Snow and David looked defeated, they didn't know what else to do to convince her that using magic would only make things worse, also that she must wait, that was the only way.
Regina saw their faces, of how much they loved her but felt powerless to help her. It seemed that they need to talk to her alone.
"Well I'm late for a meeting, I'll see you later" - Regina said as she stood up
"Thank you, Regina, sorry for keeping the you from the meeting"- Snow apologized - "right Emma?"
"Yeah, sorry"- She answered sarcastically Regina just rolled her eyes and walked out.
Snow and David looked at each other, having their usual silent conversation they decided that they will wait until they got home to talk to Emma about this, giving her time to cool off, and for them to calm themselves down too, they didn't want to make a scene.
In that moment, Red arrived with their food, and said nothing noticing the obvious tension between the family. Snow just smiled at her and received an encouraging smile from her best friend.
Both of them started on their food while Emma just sat there with her arms crossed looking at her plate with a frown.
"Emma, please eat so we can go home"- Snow said in a calm yet warning voice.
Emma was about to argue about the vegetables in her plate, that she didn't order them, clearly her parents told Red, but before she could say anything, David interrupted her.
"All of it"- he said sternly
Emma was surprised by the tone of his voice, she was a little scared to be honest, so she just kneeled in the seat and started on the broccoli, realising that her parents were furious, she decided not to push them any more.
"I have to go back, see you later" David said kissing Snow. Then, crouch down to see Emma in the eye. "Be good for your mom, we'll talk at dinner, Love you" he kissed her in the head.
Emma just gulped, she wasn't out of this yet.
The ride home was very quiet, she kept her mouth shoot all the way, not even complaining about the car seat. When they arrived, Snow looked back and found that Emma had fallen asleep. She carefully picked her up and carried her inside.
She let Emma sleep on the couch, so when she wakes up, Snow could know.
Leo stopped with the naps at 5 and a half years old. But before they ended, they usually lasted 30 min tops. She hoped Emma was the same.
After taking the boots off Emma and covering her with a blanket, she took a seat at the other end of the same couch, Snow decided to read a book until little Emma wakes up, and It was almost time for Leo to get back from school, so she decided to relax a little bit before either of her children needed her.
Like twenty minutes later Emma began to woke up, she first didn't know where she was but then she noticed her mom reading beside her. Then she remembered all that had happened at Granny's. She felt awful and guilty, she felt as her parents didn't wanted her anymore. She sat up and her her eye with her fist and sniffled, at the thought of her parents sending her back for being trouble.
Snow looked up from her book and saw a sleepy Emma rubbing her eyes.
"Hey baby, had a nice nap?" Snow asked in a sweet and low voice as she reached for her, picked her up and placed her in her lap.
Emma was taken by surprise with the tone her mom was using, and how she picked her up. All of a sudden she just felt the need to be with her, she needed the comfort only moms can give. Before second thoughts she snuggled up to her, resting her head in her mom's chest.
Snow just hugged her tight as she rested her head on top of Emma's.
"Mom?"- Emma whispered
"Yes?"
"Are you still mad?"
"Oh no, honey, it's just that you really scared me, I thought someone took you, and when Regina said you were with Gold I panicked, please never sneak off like that again"- Snow said as she played with Emma's hair.
"I'm sorry, I won't"- Emma answered and then a yawn took over her.
"You're sleepy huh?" Snow said smiling.
Emma just nodded and closed her eyes again.
Snow knew she shouldn't let her sleep again otherwise she wouldn't sleep at night. So she got an idea.
"I think I have a solution" and Snow started tickling Emma.
She started to laugh and giggle.
"Mom! Please!" She laughed even harder.
The sound of her kids laughing was the best she could possibly hear.
Snow stopped and hugged her again.
"That's better right?"
"Yes" Emma giggled.
"We still have time before your brother gets home, would you like to help me with something?"- Snow stood up with Emma in her arms.
"What are we doing?"- Emma didn't complain about being carried over, she was getting used to the affection even more.
"I'm working with Regina to file some papers about troublemakers from the enchanted forest to know who they are here and keep an eye on them"
"Okay"- Emma simply said.
They were on the table looking at pictures and papers about low danger criminals, like pickpockets and thieves. Snow also made a pile of papers that she knew they belonged to King George's men, he was definitely still a threat even if he was locked up in the mines since he tried to blame Red for his murder. But she knew his people were still loyal to him.
Emma's mood improved a lot thanks to the task her mom gave her, she felt useful, not that she was in the station or out in a call, but still, it was something.
"we're home!"- Leo shouted as he and Henry tossed their shoes in the basket at the front door and jumped into the couch to turn on the xbox.
Emma looked up from the papers she and her mom were reading when she heard the boys. She looked up to her mom, as if she was asking permission to go and join them. Snow just smiled and kissed her in the cheek.
As she watched Emma run towards the living room her cellphone rang. "Hi boys! I'll be right there!"- she answered the phone.
"Henry! Leo!"- Emma came running and hugged them both.
"Hello sis"
"Hi mom, how was your day?"- Henry turned to Emma while Leo took out the video games so they could decide which one to play.
"It was fun, I used the art set you gave me, it was pretty cool"- she gave him a smile
"I'm glad you like it"
"So how was your day? how did the math test go?"
"I aced it"- He said proudly
"congratulations kid!"- she hugged him again.
Snow suddenly came rushing to the entrance to put on her coat and shoes.
"Mom? What happened?" Leo asked as he saw her grabbing Emma's boots and jacket.
"your dad called, put on your shoes and coat, Henry you too, come here Emma"
Emma walked up to her mom and let her helped her get ready. Then she saw her mom looking for her bow.
"what's going on?"- Emma asked as Snow was getting ready her bow and arrows.
"I don't know yet"- Snow scooped Emma up and walked towards the door.
"Come on guys, we must go, bring your things"
They all ran to the station wagon, for the first time Emma didn't complain about the car seat, things were getting serious.
"Where are we going?"- Leo asked
"To Regina's house, we are all meeting there"