Who stole the cookies- part 3

A guest asked for a oneshot of Something sweet with Snowing and Emma. I've combined this with Mommabear who asked for a 3rd and final instalment following on from Ch2455 "Who stole the cookies- part 2" where Emma goes back to talking with her father, but it takes longer for things to go back to normal with her mom until, eventually, they have a heart to heart.

Charming had been right that Emma just needed some time to get over the incident. Within a week she was defrosting with him at the station and beginning to become more open again. Snow wasn't feeling so optimistic. No matter what she tried, Emma just seemed to be refusing to mend bridges with her. It was driving Snow insane. Hadn't she been punished enough? Emma had been brushing her off for weeks now. Charming was seeing how much pain Snow was in because of it. He also noticed how down Emma was without having both of them to talk to. So he set Emma up. He sent her a text asking her to meet him at the station early one morning. But Charming wasn't alone. Snow was with him. When Emma realised she had been set up, she was not happy.

"You got me out of bed early to have some sort of family meeting?" She grumbled. Charming nodded. Emma rolled her eyes.

"I don't need this. I'm going home until my shift actually starts…"

"Emma, wait." Charming quickly ran forward and grabbed her hand. "Give her a chance. You're not being fair."

"I'm not being fair?" Emma snapped. "She's the one who accused me of something I didn't do!"

"We both did, and you've forgiven me." Charming pointed out. "Doesn't your mom deserve the same second chance?" Emma scowled at them both.

"You just don't get it, do you?" She snapped, voice filled with venom. Snow came forward so she was beside Charming again.

"Clearly, no, I'm not getting it." Snow said, feeling just as frustrated with the situation. "So talk to me and help me get it." Emma began to bite her lip. Snow could see her scanning the room, looking for a clear exit. "You don't need to run." Snow told her gently. "We're both here, and we're going to listen to what you have to say. Just…don't hold back. Let it all out." Emma was clearly still on the verge of flight, but she held herself back. She was going to talk this out. This wasn't like before. These were her parents. They would listen, like they promised…wouldn't they?

"My whole childhood was a battle." Emma began. "When you're younger, it's easier. You're one of the youngest and, therefore, one of the cutest. The older kids take pity on you and help out. Adults still find you cute and there's still a chance you'll find a forever home. But then you get older. You're replaced with a never-ending amount of children coming into the system. You lose your cute factor and you begin to get lost. It's so easy to find yourself resenting those little kids for taking your place. But then you remember that you were them once, and you were scared too. I love Neal, but it was hard for a while not to feel just as replaced. He has the cute factor, I lost it a long time ago. When you automatically didn't believe he could be the one who ate the cookies, it brought me straight back to my childhood. It reminded me that…that…no matter how hard I try, I can never compete with him." Emma broke down in tears she'd been wanting to shed for four years. Snow immediately got down on her knees beside Emma and pulled her close into her arms. Emma grabbed a handful of the material of Snow's top, sobbing into her shirt. Charming joined them both, creating a group hug.

"You'll always be cute to us." Charming told her. "More than, you're beautiful, Emma. Just as beautiful as your brother."

"We are so sorry we ever made you feel that way." Snow said, pressing a kiss to the top of Emma's head. "I'm so glad you told us. This way, we can make a change. It will never happen again, Emma. We can promise you that." Emma didn't respond. She just allowed herself to feel something that child never got to feel: unconditionally loved.