Struggling to connect

Sasha asked for a oneshot of…a read and see story.

Snow and Charming had guessed that it might take Emma a while to warm up to the idea that she was a big sister. She hadn't exactly been given much warning. But when four months had gone by and Emma still seemed to struggle with so much as looking at her little brother most of the time, Snow and Charming knew there was a bit of a problem they had to deal with. They hadn't expected her jealousy to go on this long. They had a subtle chat with Archie about what he thought the best course of action might be. All he could suggest to them was to talk openly and honestly to Emma. That was the best way to resolve issues. So, as gently as they could, Snow and Charming brought Emma round to their apartment alone for dinner one evening and brought the subject up with her.

"We know it can't be easy, suddenly finding yourself with a baby brother." Charming said gently, placing his hand on top of Emma's. "After all you went through to find us, hearing that you weren't going to have us to yourself for very long must have been challenging."

"What we want to know is, how can we make it easier on you?" Snow asked her. "Do you want us to spend more time with you? Do you want to spend more time with Neal? Whatever it is, we'll do it, Emma. We just don't like seeing you so…upset around him." Snow tried to phrase it carefully. In a reaction that shocked both her parents, Emma smiled.

"You think I'm jealous of Neal?" She asked, seeing through her parents' carefully selected words. Snow and Charming stayed silent, confirming Emma's suspicions. Emma shook her head. She didn't want them thinking she was being so distant with her little brother because she was jealous of him. On the contrary, she was happy for him, and for them. He got to grow up with the most amazing parents a child could ever wish for, and they got to raise one of their babies. She guessed it was time she explained herself.

"Guys, you can relax. I'm not jealous of Neal." She assured them.

"Ok…then what's wrong?" Charming prompted her. Emma fidgeted, unsure how to begin. Her parents waited patiently, seeing this was clearly a difficult conversation for their daughter. They knew Emma struggled with emotional conversations at the best of times.

"When people find out I moved away from the Swans because they had their own biological kid, it's a common misconception that I moved away when she was still pregnant." Emma began. Snow and Charming looked confused. That's what they'd both assumed. Heck, that's what they'd referred to when Emma told them why she left. She'd just let them have that assumption. "Yeah, everyone thinks it. I just let them. It's easier than explaining the truth." Emma admitted. "I left when their son, Billy, was a couple of months old." Emma told them. Snow and Charming just didn't understand. Why would they give Emma back after the baby was born? "Mr Swan lost his job after Billy was born. At least, that's what I think looking back as an adult from the conversations I overheard. They didn't really have enough money for the two of us as well as both of them. It wasn't last in, first out, in this situation. It was no blood, no home." Emma said, only now beginning to sound bitter about the situation. They couldn't blame her. "I got taken back into care without even knowing at the time they weren't my real parents. I was three years old and I just wanted my family. Of course, I never saw them again." Snow and Charming always felt rage when Emma discussed the Swans giving her back to the system that was so cruel to her, now was no different. Emma sighed. "I had really bonded with Billy, before I left." She added. Now her parents understood. Emma was reluctant to bond with Neal in case her family fell apart again. In case she was pushed out. Charming squeezed Emma's hand.

"Emma, we're not the Swans, Neal isn't Billy." He gently reminded her. Snow put a few stray hairs behind Emma's ear. She smiled lovingly at their daughter.

"Emma, wild dogs couldn't make us give you away again." Snow promised her. "They'd have to claw you from my cold, dead, hands." Emma grimaced.

"Thanks for the image, corpse mom. That's sure to star in my nightmares tonight." Snow and Charming knew the humour was Emma's way of deflecting from the conversation. That it was now getting to be too much. After one of their quick silent conversations, they agreed that was enough for tonight. They had gotten to the bottom of the issue, and assured Emma that it would not happen again. That she was part of this family for good now. Whether she liked it, or not. Slowly but surely, they would begin to help Emma build a relationship with her baby brother. In her own time.