Charming's dream
Jordyn asked for a oneshot of Charming telling Snow about the dream he has with him and Emma dancing in 3x14.
Snow couldn't help but notice how distracted Charming had seemed since he'd woke up this morning. Snow knew her husband well. She knew his mood had nothing to do with just being told he was going to be a father again. It took until midday before Snow was able to find a private moment alone with Charming to discuss it with him.
"What's wrong?" She asked him outright. Charming looked over at Snow, pretending like he didn't know what she meant. "Charming, I know you better than anyone. Don't use this pregnancy as an excuse to start hiding things from me. I know something is bothering you. What is it?" Charming sighed, sitting down on the edge of their bed.
"I had a dream last night." He began. "Well, it started out as a dream." Charming smiled, playing it over in his head. "A beautiful dream…but then, it turned into a nightmare." Snow came over and sat beside Charming, placing her hand on top of his.
"What was it about?" She asked him. She felt Charming tense.
"Emma." Was all he said. Snow's own hand froze on top of his. Their daughter was still such a painful topic of conversation for either of them, their grandson too. They couldn't bear the thought of never seeing either of them again, so they didn't think about it. Snow's free hand went to her stomach, her thumb gently rubbing back and forth over it. The last time she'd felt this excited…it had been with Emma's life starting inside her. It was a bittersweet thought.
"What about her?" Snow asked, knowing Charming had to talk about this, no matter how much thinking about their beautiful baby girl made Snow want to weep.
"She was here." Charming continued. "I went into her nursery. It was just like we left it before the curse, everything exactly where we left it. Then, she came in. You should have seen her, Snow. She was beautiful. I mean, she's always flawless, but in that ballgown, I was just so proud. Anyway, she wanted me to help her practice dancing for the Ball. It was everything I ever dreamed of doing with our daughter, Snow. But then…then it all went wrong?"
"How?" Snow asked. Charming sighed.
"She told me not to fail the next one…and she was pulled through the wardrobe again. I couldn't save her, again." Snow moved her hands to frame Charming's face.
"It wasn't your fault." She reminded him. "It wasn't either of our faults. We gave Emma her best chance. We did it again when we sent her and Henry over the town line. We're her parents. We will feel the pain of her absence every day, but it is made bearable by knowing she is blissfully unaware. She is happy. Or at least she has the chance of being happy. Emma stays with us in our hearts. And we will make sure her little sibling grows up hearing all about their amazing big sister and nephew. That is all we can do, Charming. There is no point in torturing ourselves." But still, Charming couldn't help but feel they should be out there still, trying to find a way to reunite their family. They had been told by basically everyone they trusted with magic that there was nothing they could do to bring Emma and Henry home, or to find a way back to them. There was just an uneasy feeling in Charming's cut. An uneasy feeling that told him that their baby girl needed them more than ever, whether she knew it or not.
