Eating habits

A guest asked for a oneshot of Snow telling Emma off in a restaurant because she's not eating like a princess. It really upsets Emma.

Snow couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. She loved her daughter dearly, and normally, her ravenous appetite didn't bother her. Snow didn't so much as bat an eye when Emma wolfed down a grilled cheese at Granny's or one of Snow's famous casseroles. This, however, was a little different.

Things were gradually changing in Storybrooke. Areas were being established within the town similar to the different kingdoms that there had been in the Enchanted Forest to make the people feel more at home. This meant the royals all getting together and establishing both boundaries and responsibilities. Snow and Charming had taken the decision that Emma should accompany them to any meetings. After all, she was part of the royal family of Misthaven and was more than old enough to be involved in the decision making. One such meeting was taking place at one of the few fancy restaurants in Storybrooke. Emma hadn't had time to eat lunch. Snow had insisted on getting her to look the part. That meant skipping lunch to get ready. By the time Emma's food arrived, she was starved. Emma cleaned her starter off quick smart, much to the bafflement of the other royals. Snow and Charming couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed on their daughter' behalf. Emma, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice all the eyes on her as she ate. Important decisions were being made. Emma's behaviour could be enough to cost Snow and Charming some of the things they were trying to keep for their "kingdom". They ignored it for the starter, knowing Emma's hadn't eaten and she seemed to have a fast metabolism. But when she began to demolish the main course in the same manner, Snow knew they had to act.

"Excuse us for a moment." Snow said, smiling at her fellow royals as she got up. She tapped Emma on the shoulder.

"Come on." She said quietly. Emma looked up, confused.

"You go ahead." She responded. "I don't need to use the bathroom." Snow and Charming frowned at each other. Clearly the subtle approach wasn't working.

"Oh I think you might." Snow said quietly. "Come on, Emma." Snow insisted. Emma sighed. She was hungry! She just wanted to eat in peace. She slumped after her mom to the restroom.

"What's going on?" Emma asked her. "I don't need to pee!" Snow bit her lip, trying to work out how best to phrase this.

"Listen, honey." She began. "This meeting, it's important. We have people relying on us to come here with their best interests at heart. Part of achieving that means showing the other royals that we mean business. That we live up to our royal titles." Snow tucked some loose hair behind Emma's ear. "Maybe…slow down with the eating, yeah? Chew a few more times?" Snow suggested. Emma could feel her face heating up. Were her parents embarrassed of her?

"Uh, sure." Emma said quietly. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine. It's just…"

"We should get back out there." Emma cut her off. "Don't want to miss anything." Emma then made her way back out to the restaurant. Snow felt awful that she had embarrassed her.

Snow kept a close eye on Emma throughout the rest of the main course. She hardly touched the rest of her food. That isn't what Snow wanted. What had she been thinking? People being stuffy wasn't worth Emma feeling like she couldn't be herself. So, when dessert was brought out, Snow dug her spoon into her ice cream and slurped at it noisily. Emma immediately gave her mom a curious look. Wasn't that exactly what she had told Emma not to do? Snow smiled at her daughter, hoping the apology was made clear. Charming caught on himself and also began to act slightly more uncouth with his own dessert. If the other royals couldn't accept Emma for who she was, eating habits and all, then their opinion didn't matter to them as much as they thought it did.