Don't take my babies

Reading Pixie asked for a oneshot of…a read and see story.

Snow had never had such a real dream before. She could have sworn she felt the warmth of her children by her side. Then felt even stronger still as that warmth was ripped from her as, despite her best efforts, both Emma and Neal were taken from her and Charming. She hadn't been able to shake the dream when she woke up the following morning. She had of course told Charming, who was as comforting as he could possibly be, but he couldn't take away the way she saw it in her head. Over and over again.

By the time the next night arrived, Snow just couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned as Charming slept soundly beside her. She knew there was no point in trying to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she thought someone would come and take Emma or Neal away. So, stretching, Snow got out of her bed. There was only one way she was going to be able to get some sleep tonight.

"Come on you, shh." Snow whispered to her baby boy. Fortunately, he slept through her picking him up. Snow looked back to Charming, who was still sleeping. Then, quietly, she crept up the stairs.

With Neal snoozing in one arm, Snow carefully pushed Emma's bedroom door open. She saw that Emma was lying on her belly with her limbs sprawled across the whole bed. Snow chuckled lightly. She never had been the most graceful. Snow also knew that Emma was a very heavy sleeper. So it didn't disrupt her much when Snow carefully moved one of her arms and one of her legs so she could slide into the bed beside her with Neal. Snow smiled with Neal sleeping on her chest and one arm now draped around Emma. Now that she knew both of her children were safe and secure in her arms, she could finally sleep.

Charming had always been an early riser. It was a shepherd thing. The first thing he did every morning was roll over and kiss his sleeping wife. She always looked so peaceful when she slept. So he was very surprised when he rolled over and found her not to be there. His first thought was that she might be in the bathroom, but as he got up to check on Neal and found him not in his crib, Charming realised something was up. He explored the whole of the first floor of the house before going up the stairs to the second floor. He peeked his head into Emma's room, and that's where he saw her. He smiled at the sight. His beautiful wife, and his amazing children. He knew Snow had struggled with her sleep the night before. But he also knew it might not be a good thing if Emma woke up to her mom and baby brother snuggled in with her. So Charming crept up to Snow in the bed, and planted his usual kiss on her forehead. She seemed more disturbed than she normally did.

"Snow." He breathed. Suddenly, Snow's eyes shot open. She sat bolt upright in the bed, just missing Charming.

"Don't take my babies!" She screamed. Emma jolted in the bed and sat up herself. As Charming suspected she might be, she was very confused.

"What's going on?" She asked, dazed. "Why are you all in here? Mom, what's wrong?" Snow was only just getting her own self together. Neal had started crying, given his own rude awakening. Only when Snow got him settled again did she explain to Emma (Charming of course already knew) why she was in her bed with Neal, and why she had screamed at her father. Emma nodded in understanding. She was no stranger to vivid nightmares. She had plenty after getting back from the past when she thought her mom had burned to death. Both Charming and Emma could see that, even after seeing that both Emma and Neal were fine, she was reluctant to leave. It was still too early to get up for the rest of the family. Emma didn't have the heart to force her mom and Neal out.

"Dad, it's ok." Emma said, smiling at Charming. "Leave her here with me." Charming could see that Snow visibly relaxed at Emma's acceptance for her to stay there. That didn't mean he was going to leave, though. He plonked himself in the seat by Emma's bed.

"I'll stay." He said. He grabbed a random book off of Emma's shelf. "Nobody is taking them, Snow. We'll both make sure of it." He didn't know who the mystery villain was in Snow's nightmares that was threatening their children's safety, but he knew it was real to Snow and he would treat it as such. Snow smiled lovingly at her husband. What would she do without him? Or, indeed, her beautiful children? Both Snow and Emma settled back down in the bed, with Snow keeping both Emma and Neal close to her.

A few hours later, the family properly got up for the day. When Emma went for her morning shower, Charming took the opportunity to properly talk through the nightmare with Snow.

"Who's hurting them in your dreams, Snow?" He asked her, taking her hands. Snow sighed.

"I don't know." She said honestly. "I think they're dark knights. All I know is they take both of them, right from our arms. We're powerless in the dream, Charming. We can't save them." Charming pulled his shaking wife into his arms and gently pressed his lips to hers.

"I know it must have been scary, but I promise you, Snow. Nobody is going to take our children. Not now, not ever. I would never let that happen." Snow rested her weary head against Charming's chest, listening to the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat. She didn't know what had brought these nightmares on, or what would make them go away again, but at least she always had her Charming throughout it. She would get through this. With him, Snow could get through anything.