No time for Emma

RaisingStar asked for a oneshot of Emma struggling with being a member of royalty and having a new baby brother. It leads to her parents having limited time for her. Every time they do make some time for her they're interrupted as something more urgent comes up. Normally I make the age difference between Emma and Neal 1 year, but for this chapter I'll make it 5.

"Have you noticed something odd…"

"About Emma?" Charming finished Snow's sentence for her. Their little girl used to be so full of energy and fun. Nowadays, she seemed so quiet and reserved. Snow nodded glumly.

"She's just not herself right now. She seemed so happy with Neal at first. Do you think it's just too much for her now having a little brother?"

"Maybe." Charming sighed. "But when she's with Neal seems to be the only time she brightens up right now. She loves her baby brother." He pointed out. Snow agreed he had a good point. "Well if we've both noticed it that means it's not just overreacting. Do you think maybe we should talk to her?"

"I think that's probably for the best." Snow agreed. "We've got a meeting in a few hours, and then things get really hectic over the next few days. We're best doing it now otherwise we'll have to wait." Charming nodded.

The pair then made their way from their study to Emma's nursery. They could see from the doorway that her nanny was struggling to get Emma to engage. This made the parents hearts sink. Where was their happy little girl?

"Coral, would you mind giving us a minute?" Snow asked the nanny politely. Coral nodded and bowed politely, leaving the parents with Emma. She stared up at them, wide eyed.

"Have I done something bad?" She asked them. Snow and Charming immediately got down on her level.

"No baby, of course not." Snow promised her, stroking her cheek.

"Oh." Emma said, confused. "Why are you here then, aren't you busy?" Snow and Charming looked at Emma, wondering what she meant.

"Why would you ask that Em?" Charming prompted her.

"You're always busy right now. You've said you'll come play with me, but then something happens. Or Neal starts crying. You're too busy to play with me now." Now Snow and Charming understood. Emma was so down because she thought they didn't have time for her anymore. Charming immediately scooped Emma up into his arms. Snow joined them, creating a group hug.

"Emma, you and your brother are always going to be the most important things to us." Charming told her. "Way more important than any silly meetings."

"We're sorry you ever thought we were too busy for you." Snow added. Snow and Charming looked at each other and silently agreed their meetings for the next few days would be rescheduled.

"Come on princess. It's a lovely day. Let's go out and play. Just us." Emma beamed up at her parents.

"Really?" She asked, as though worried they were lying.

"Really." Snow said, as Charming swung Emma up to sit on his shoulders. They both delighted in the sound of her giggles, something they hadn't heard for weeks. They didn't care who kicked up a fuss about them rescheduling this meeting. They were spending the rest of this day with their little girl.