What the tiara represents
samjaymcnulty asked for a oneshot of Emma receiving a royal trinket at Christmas in the EF. She says something along the lines of "servants don't wear crowns". She learns the same lesson her mom did just before her mother died.
Emma loved Christmas time. She of course never went without, but at Christmas her mommy and daddy went all out to spoil her rotten. Any toy she asked for, she got. Any food she wanted made, she ate. Any game she wanted to play, they played. The one thing Snow and Charming weren't always able to give Emma was time, so they made sure she had their undivided attention at Christmas time.
On the morning of the big day itself, they sat with their seven-year-old daughter as she excitedly tore off the wrapping paper from each present in turn. She ooed and ahhed at the teddy bears, dolls and other such toys any little girl could dream of. She held up her sparkly new dresses happily, already thinking about the chances she would have to show off in them. Emma loved having people tell her how pretty she looked. She loved feeling special. Emma always felt slightly disappointed when she had no more parcels left to open. So she was delighted when her parents brought out an extra little box they had been hiding from her while she opened the rest of her gifts. Curious, Emma took it from them.
"Be careful, sweetie. It's delicate." Snow told her. As carefully as possible, Emma unwrapped the colourful paper from the box and opened it up. Inside was a tiara. Emma gasped. She hadn't been allowed a proper tiara before now. Her parents had said she was too little.
"Now, you're still a little too young for one like grandma Eva's, but we thought a nice plain silver one would be good practice for you." Charming explained to her. She would get her grandma's one when she was old enough to understand the weight behind it, but for now, she would look simply adorable in this. Emma carefully reached up and perched it on top of her golden curls. Snow laughed gently. She came forward and bent down in front of Emma, adjusting the tiara so it sat properly on her head.
"Sweetheart, do you know why getting to wear a tiara is so special?" Snow asked her. Emma nodded.
"Uh huh. It means I'm a princess." Emma answered her.
"Yes, but what does being a princess mean? Why does being a princess mean you wear a tiara?" Snow asked her, wanting Emma to think a little deeper. Emma's face scrunched up. She wasn't sure what her mommy meant.
"Well…servants don't get to wear tiaras. Only royal people deserve them." Emma answered. That had been the answer both Snow and Charming had expected Emma to give, which is why they knew they needed to have this talk with her. Snow took Emma's hands in her own.
"Baby, everyone deserves to have nice things like tiaras or whatever makes them feel special. That's not why royal people wear them." Charming came and joined Snow beside Emma.
"Remember Em. Daddy wasn't always a royal. I was a shepherd before I met mommy. I still get to wear my crown even though I'm still a shepherd at heart." Charming reminded his young daughter.
"Daddy's right princess. You're not getting a tiara because you were born a princess. You're getting one because we think you're ready to show people what that means. Being a royal isn't about looking down our noses at servants or anyone else. We respect everyone in our kingdom because they have earned our respect. Everyone plays an important role in life, Emma, especially servants. They are also often incredible humble about how much work they do. Being a princess, little one, is about being ready to serve our people in whatever way they need us. It's about being kind and respectful. I trust you to use those values more and more as you grow older. I think you're old enough to start now though. What do you think, Emma?" Snow asked her. Emma thought over all her parents had said for a moment before slowly nodding. Snow and Charming each kissed her cheek before Charming scooped her up, hiking her onto his shoulders.
"We're proud of you, sweetheart." He told her as he and Snow took her from the room. Emma smiled merrily from on top of her dad's shoulders. She could feel the weight of the tiara on top of her head, and would forevermore use it as a reminder of what it represented.
