The keychain

A guest asked for a oneshot of Emma losing the swan keychain Neal got her and flipping out on her parents when they're just trying to help. Snow reminds her that the keychain isn't Neal. Set as though Emma is still living with them.

It wasn't often Neal let his parents lie in past eight. So when their little cherub did sleep in a little late, it was like bliss for the overtired parents. So of course the day Neal slept right through his usual wake up time would be the morning Emma decided to wake them up instead. It was like she was having a wrestling match upstairs in her room. Both Snow and Charming woke up together. After quickly checking Neal, who seemed to be sleeping right through the whole event, they headed up to Emma's room, slightly grumpily, to see what all the noise was about. When they peeked in the doorway, they found Emma tossing objects here, there and everywhere.

"Emma?" Charming asked groggily. "What are you doing? It's half past eight in the morning."

"I know what time it is." Emma snapped at him. This surprised the parents. Emma wasn't usually snappy. Sure, she was never exactly what you could call a morning person, but she was never usually so rude. Emma could sense that her parents were shocked at her tone. She sighed, frustrated. She didn't have the patience right now to explain the situation. "The swan keychain Neal got me. I can't find it. The clip on my keys broke." She told them. "I think I last saw it here last night, but I just don't know." Snow and Charming could tell Emma was on the verge of tears.

"Ok," Charming said. "Then we'll help you look…"

"No!" Emma shouted at them. Snow and Charming froze on the spot. "No, I have a system. You'll just mess it up. It's better if I do it alone. Please, just leave me alone." Emma pleaded with them. Snow and Charming looked at each other, worried. Emma was beginning to become out of control over the situation. They had to step in before she lost it. Ignoring her pleas to leave, they stepped closer. Snow took Emma's shoulders in her hands.

"I know you're upset about this," she began gently "but it's important to remember that this keychain isn't Neal. Yes, I understand it's something physical you can hold on to, but losing it doesn't take your memories of him, or the love you had for him." Snow and Charming could see Emma calming down. "Right, let's all look properly. We'll each take a section of the room and see if we can find this keychain." Snow said calmly.

Within twenty minutes, Emma's keychain was found. The relief on her face was worth missing out on a lie in for.