Patient Swan
Hello again everyone. Sorry, I know it's been a long time. Things have been pretty hectic in "the real world" if you will so I had to take a break from writing. Much thanks to Crowned Tiger who's had to put up with all my whinging and moaning! So, this oneshot is for a guest who asked for Snow and Charming having to take care of a sick Neal and a sick Emma, and Emma feeling a little disappointed because her parents are more worried about her brother. But then her parents talk to her.
"Ok" Snow said, backing into the room with a tray. "We have two bowls of chicken noodle soup for my poor little troopers." Emma and Neal had each gotten a cold when Neal decided he'd run into the sea like he'd done in the summer…only now it was November. Emma had quickly run in after him and they'd both come down with pretty nasty colds.
"Thank you." Emma said croakily, accepting her bowl. Neal whimpered beside her (Snow had requested that for now they stick together to make treating them easier) as Snow sat on the edge of the bed with the tray still containing his bowl. She held out a spoonful for him. Neal shook his head.
"Come on little man, it'll make you feel better." Snow encouraged him. Neal just shook his head again, suddenly scooting over to Emma and burying his face against her arm. Emma wasn't expecting that and the bowl shook, causing some of the searing hot liquid to land on her leg. She sighed, quickly putting the bowl down and grabbing a handful of tissues before dabbing at her leg. She was waiting for Snow to tell Neal off for being careless, but it never came. She was too focused on trying to coax him out to get him to eat. Emma couldn't help but feel a little hurt. She didn't seem too bothered that she'd stopped eating. Just then, David came into the room.
"Oh dear, is somebody giving mommy a hard time?" He asked. Emma had to restrain herself from grumbling something about not just mommy. Neal slid down under the covers. David came over and sat beside Snow.
"Neal," He said gently. "Come on out and eat your soup. Little boys who don't eat their soup don't get ice cream." Emma by this point had taken back her bowl and was slowly working her way through her soup. The idea of having ice cream anywhere near her when her nose was this blocked up made her shiver. But she was just going to have to put up with it. Again, she wasn't expecting such quick movement from her brother. His head shot up out of the covers at the mention of ice cream- colliding with Emma's bowl of soup. Emma gasped as most the soup upturned onto her top. Neal started to cry.
Snow quickly put Neal's bowl down. "Neal, are you alright?" She asked. Emma had had enough.
"Is he alright?!" She asked, not quite believing it. "I've just had half a bowl of soup spilled on me, and you're asking if he's alright?" Emma sighed. "I'm going to the couch. I'll just take care of myself, it's less hazardous." She snapped. She shot out of the bed and wasn't prepared for the sudden dizziness. Fortunately, David was quick and caught her.
"Less hazardous, ay?" He commented. Emma just gave a frustrated sigh, trying to move away, but he wouldn't let her.
"Emma, I'm not letting you go, you'll fall." He said calmly.
"Oh, so we just stand here with hot soup sticking to me? Great idea?" She said sarcastically. Snow got up.
"You help Neal finish his soup. I'll help Emma."
"I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself." Emma said in frustration.
"Not when you can't walk the length of yourself you're not." Snow commented. "Come on, we can get you into a nice clean top." Emma didn't really have much choice. She was too weak to argue.
Snow led her into the bathroom and helped her change into a clean pyjama top. "Ok," Snow said. "Let's get you back to bed and get your medicine."
"My medicine?" Emma asked, confused. "I haven't been taking any medicine. You know I only take it when I absolutely have to because it just makes me feel drowsy. You must be getting me muddled with Neal." Snow gave Emma a sheepish smile.
"Actually you have been having medicine. I've been sneaking it into your drinks or soup, anything to conceal the taste. That's why I just left you to eat. I didn't want to make it look too suspicious." Snow explained. Suddenly it made sense to Emma. She felt bad for thinking her parents only cared about Neal. Every time she thought they didn't care about her they proved her very long. Shouldn't she have learned by now? Snow gently took her hand.
"Come on, back to bed. I'll try and keep your brother from burning you." Snow told her. Emma gave a small smile in return.
"Think he'll take my medicine by way of apology?" Emma joked. Snow barked out a "ha".
"Not a chance. My secret might be out but you are taking that medicine, Emma Swan." Emma gulped. She definitely had to give her parents more credit sometimes.
