Needing some down time
Heysnow asked for a oneshot of...read and see.
Snow couldn't help but feel she was seeing more of Emma now that she had moved out than she ever did when their daughter lived with them. Not that either Snow or Charming minded. Emma moving out had been hard on them both. They spend nearly three decades apart and only lived together for a few months. It seemed cruel they only just such a short time together. Emma seemed to be using her parents having a bigger house as an excuse to come round more often. She often came home with her dad from the station and didn't leave until bedtime. Occasionally, she even used her room in the house and just stayed over. Snow loved having her daughter so close to her, but still couldn't help but think something was up. So over the course of a week, Snow kept an especially close eye on Emma to try and piece together what was going on.
Eventually, Snow figured it out. The key was the afternoons. Emma seemed particularly fragile whenever she was with them in the afternoons, right before Neal's nap. That was when he and Snow had some quiet time together. Before Snow took him to his crib and read him a book, they would snuggle up on the couch together and watch an episode or two of something like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Snow noticed during those little sessions that Emma seemed to flick her eyes over to her and Neal more often. She would also, more often than not, be hugging a pillow between her knees and her chest. Snow figured she had the right idea. Emma was struggling with the comfort Neal got from her, because she never got any. Emma might act tough on the outside, but both Snow and Charming knew the truth. Inside, there was a fragile side to their daughter. A side that sometimes required one of them reminding Emma that she was no longer alone. That she would never be alone again.
So, knowing it was this part of Emma that needed some attention, Snow hatched a plan. On one of the days she knew Emma would come home early from the station, she had Charming come over for lunch. Then, Charming took Neal to the station with him for some daddy/son time. Leaving Snow to have some mother/daughter time with Emma.
"What's going on?" Emma asked as Charming took Neal away in his carseat. "Why's dad taking Neal to work?"
"Because," Snow announced from behind Emma as she flung a blanket over her. "We're having some us time." Emma was further confused as Snow came and sat under the blanket beside her. She turned the TV over to the DVD source and Emma saw that Grease was already to go.
"I've got a few of your favourites lined up." Snow explained. "I thought we could use a little chill day?" Snow said subtly. Emma smiled gratefully.
"Sounds perfect." She said, settling down under the blanket and tentatively resting her head on her mom's shoulder. "Thanks mom." Snow smiled, resting her head on top of Emma's.
"Any time, sweetheart." Snow responded quietly as she pressed play. And she meant any time, both she and Charming did. Any time Emma needed them, even if it was just for a little duvet day, they'd be there.
