Talking things through

A guest asked for a oneshot of *6x05 spoilers!* An extended version of the scene with Snow and Emma talking about her secret, adding Charming into it.

Guest: Sorry, but I hate writing holiday themed oneshots after the holiday, and knew I'd be posting this after the holiday. If you check out my other stories, you'll find one called Halloween.

Snow frowned as she saw Emma sitting there on the wooden rocking chair. She just looked so small. So lost. Snow and Charming were, of course, hurt that Emma had chosen to keep this important information from them, but now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Not exactly. Now was the time to straighten things out. So Snow walked over to Emma, and took a seat on the swivel chair opposite her. Snow looked at Emma gently, hoping she would turn and look back, but she didn't. Emma kept staring off into the distance. So Snow began the conversation herself.

"You should have been honest." Snow reprimanded her gently. Emma shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

"I…didn't lie." She said quietly. "I just…" Emma finally looked up at her mom. "Got scared." She sighed.

"Which is exactly when you should talk to your mother." Snow reminded her. Emma's eyes widened. She knew she had messed up. Whenever she had messed up before, she'd never really been given a second chance.

"Can you forgive me?" Emma asked her mom, not knowing what she would do if her mom said no. Snow was slightly hurt that Emma had to ask her that, but she also understood. She knew that not many people had forgiven Emma for any wrongdoings. It was up to her and Charming to show her that wasn't the way a proper family functioned.

"Of course I forgive you, we're your parents. We'll always forgive you" Snow told her, casually glancing over her shoulder to Charming and Hook as Emma visibly relaxed. "But what about him?" Emma didn't answer, she didn't know what to say.

Charming could feel Snow looking at him. He turned around and saw that she and Emma were having a heart to heart. He saw how hurt and confused Emma looked. He couldn't stand seeing her like that, but he didn't like that she had lied to them either. Especially after all the hassle she gave them for keeping a secret from her. So Charming walked over to where Snow and Emma both sat. He crouched down beside Emma's chair, folding his arms across the arm of the chair and looking up at his daughter.

"When were you planning on telling us that you thought you were going to die?" He asked her. Emma could hear the disappointment loud and clear in his voice, and it killed her inside. She hoped her rapid blinking would hide the tears threatening to spill over, however all it did was highlight it.

"What I supposed to tell you?" She asked quietly. "How was I meant to tell anyone I was going to die? It's inevitable. All it would do is cause unnecessary pain, and I'm about to put you through enough of that."

"Hey," Charming said as he covered Emma's hand with his own. "Nothing in this life is inevitable. Nothing is ever written in stone. We went to Hell and back for the pirate, so what lengths do you think we'll go to in order to keep you alive?" He asked her. Emma didn't respond. She didn't think they were grasping that this really was set in stone.

"I don't care what some oracle told you." Snow said, as if reading her thoughts. "Just because you are a Saviour does not mean that has to be your death sentence. We're going to fight this Emma, and we are going to win because your father and I are never losing you again. We just need you to be honest with us. This family doesn't keep secrets anymore." Snow didn't notice Charming shift guiltily. Emma nodded, moving over in the chair and resting her head wearily against her dad's shoulder. Charming then wrapped his arms around Emma, determined to protect her. Emma may have had the role of Saviour thrust upon her, but there was more to her than that. So much more. First and foremost, she was their daughter, and they would not lose their child.