Security item- part 2

Billybob asked for a oneshot of a sequel to Ch1035 "Security item" where Neal starts carrying Herbert about in his backpack instead of in his hands. He tells Snow that's what Emma used to do with her blanket. Snow asks Emma about it. Emma, embarrassed, tells her that she carried her blanket about with her in her backpack until she got an apartment.

Snow thought it was a rather dramatic turnaround. Neal had insisted that Herbert be with them almost every day, now suddenly he was nowhere to be seen. It took Snow a couple of days to work out that Herbert's disappearance coincided with Neal wearing a backpack everywhere he went. Snow asked him why Herbert suddenly had to be in the bag.

"It's what Emma did." Neal explained. "She told me so. She used to keep her blanket in her backpack so the other kids wouldn't find it. Herbert can stay in mine and that way he's with me, but the other kids don't have to know." Neal had explained. Snow smiled, accepting the explanation, but she made a mental note to go back and talk to Emma later about where Neal had found that out.

It turned out, Emma had told him. She had a conversation with her little brother about maybe coming up with a compromise. Emma felt awkward telling the same information to her mom, but she guessed it would be unfair to keep it from her now.

"I moved around a lot as a kid. Not all the homes I stayed in were the best." Emma explained, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "I didn't have many things that were exclusively mine. Two were my backpack, and my blanket. Like Hell was I losing the blanket, so I kept it in the bag on my back. That way I knew it was safe and with me." Emma explained. "It stayed there until I eventually got a secure place of my own and I knew sticky fingers weren't going to get all over it. I know, it's corny."

"No." Snow said, reaching out and cupping Emma's cheek. "I'm glad you had it. Your father and I both are." Snow told her. She might not have been there for her daughter, but she was at least able to give her some comfort during her childhood. That was something.