Fat and ugly

A guest asked for a oneshot of Snow, having just given birth, is self-conscious about her weight as it isn't falling off as fast as with previous pregnancies. She keeps criticising her look and Emma overhears. Since everyone says they look alike, Emma assumes that means she's ugly and fat as well. She ends up doing crazy things to look prettier and skinnier, leading to a mother/daughter chat.

Snow frowned at her eldest child. Emma was a growing girl. She seemed to constantly be growing at the moment. It seemed like they'd just get her measured for new clothing, but by the time it was stitched she'd already grown half a metre. Like all growing children, Emma had been eating like a horse. She seemed to inhale her food more than chew it. But, just since a couple of days ago, Snow had hardly seen her eat a bite. It was not like any of Emma (or any of her other siblings') growth spurts, where they gradually reduced how much they ate. No, this was very sudden. Emma pushed a minimal amount of food around her plate before asking to be excused. If questioned on how little she ate, Emma mumbled something about not feeling very well before shuffling away. But Snow knew that girl inside out. She was feeling just fine. Well, in a medical sense, anyway. There was another reason why she wasn't eating. Snow was determined to get it out of her. So when she excused herself from yet another meal, Snow followed her up to her room. She waited outside for a minute, hiding behind the door. She watched as Emma looked around, clearly up to something. Was Snow about to find out why her daughter was acting so strangely? Emma reached under her bag and pulled out a very familiar chest to Snow: her makeup. Snow was puzzled. Emma hated wearing makeup. She watched as Emma placed the box at her little vanity table and looked down at it, clearly wondering where to begin. Snow decided now was the right time to make her presence known.

"You know, if you were suddenly wanting to try makeup on, you might have tried asking me rather than taking it from my room." Snow said quietly. Emma nearly jumped ten feet in the air.

"Mom." She said, surprised. Snow fixed Emma was a slightly stern look. "Um, I was just…just…"

"Interesting story." Snow said, coming and sitting beside Emma. "I'll need to hear the ending once you've made it up." She commented. Emma went bright red. "Sweetheart, what's going on with you? You're hardly touching your food, and now you're taking my makeup? You hate makeup." Snow pointed out. Emma shrugged, looking down.

"Maybe I've just not given it a chance." She mumbled. Snow reached out and tilted Emma's chin up.

"Or maybe, you're hiding something from me?" She suggested. "Spit it out." Emma bit her lip. "Sweetheart? Please? I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong." Emma shrugged again.

"I look like you, right?" Emma said quietly. Snow smiled.

"So I've been told. Well, you look like daddy too. You've got his blonde hair and his smile." Snow added. "Why?" Emma's bottom lip was quivering.

"Because if you think you're ugly and fat, then I must be ugly and fat too." Emma sniffled. "I heard you talking to daddy a few days ago." Snow felt dreadful. She recalled the conversation Emma was talking about.

Snow had only given birth to Emma's youngest sibling, Michael, a month ago. With their four other children, Snow's weight had bounced back to normal reasonably quickly. With Michael, Snow felt like she was only getting heavier still. He was also a pretty lousy sleeper at night. Snow didn't have much time to be napping during the day, unlike him, so she felt like her skin and her hair were suffering for it. The lack of sleep just made Snow feel pretty lousy about herself in general. She had a bit of a wobble to Charming. A wobble that Emma must have overheard. Snow reached out and placed some loose hair behind Emma's ear, letting her hand rest on Emma's cheek.

"You listen to me, Emma Ruth." Snow said gently. "You, are a very beautiful, very smart and just perfect." Snow said, gently tapping her nose. "Don't you go listening to mama being silly. Besides, even if we do look alike, if I'm being silly about myself, that doesn't ever mean I think you're ugly or fat. I simply never could…"

"And daddy thinks that all his girls are perfect." Charming said, coming into the room having heard their conversation. "Mama, Emma and Rosie." He said, kissing both their heads. He frowned at the makeup. He'd gotten so lucky the past eleven years with Emma never showing interest in it. He wanted to encourage that.

"Ah, Em, you don't need this stuff. Neither does mama, for that matter." He added. He didn't like Snow being so self-conscious. Emma looked at the box for a moment before scrunching her face up and shaking her head.

"Nah, I don't think I'll be needing it." She said, closing it over again. Snow and Charming smiled at each other over her head. They hope she never felt like she needed it. To them, she was perfect the way she was, and always would be.