I trust her

A guest asked for a oneshot of Snow not reacting badly to the boiling bottle at the mommy and me class and letting Emma take Neal. One of the other moms makes a comment about how Snow shouldn't trust Emma, which visibly upsets Emma. Snow stands up to the mom and it makes Emma feel better.

"So, this is what you do here. You, give sleeping tips, and sing songs and…"

"Oh, it's more than just that. It's like having a support group. I mean, being a first time mother is not easy." Ella explained, just as Alex began to fuss. Emma couldn't help but feel a little stung. Not just at the comment itself, given Ella knew their family situation, but that her mother didn't correct her.

"First time mother?" Emma said more slyly to her own mom.

"Emma, of course I am not a first time mother." Snow said firmly, taking a step closer to her daughter. It was very important to her that Emma knew that.

"Well, you kind of are." Emma responded. She tried to keep a light tone, but Snow could see right through that to the hurt underneath. "You've never raised a baby before. You just…put one through a magical wardrobe." Again, Snow saw right through the fake laugh Emma gave, although Snow saw nothing funny about that situation at all.

"Emma." Snow said, hurt.

"It's ok, I get it. It's all…new for you. This is…exciting. Mommy and me classes, and…songs and first steps. It all must me…really exciting." Emma said, trying to pretend she was ok with the whole situation. Emma began to notice that all the mothers in the room were staring at her. "What?" She asked.

"The bottle." Aurora said quietly. Emma looked down at Neal's bottle in her hand, just realising that it was glowing and bubbling.

Shit. She thought. "Oh…ah…" Emma concentrated really hard until the glowing stopped and the milk stopped bubbling. "It's just, you know, magic. I've been practicing to try to capture the Snow Queen. I guess it must still be…a little revved up." Emma explained herself as she put the bottle back in the diaper bag. "Ok." Emma said, shaking her hands, removing the last hint of magic. She stepped forward, taking Neal from her mother. Snow smiled.

"Maybe give him the spare bottle instead." She said quietly. "Just to be safe. We can give him that one tomorrow." Emma smiled, her cheeks turning pink, but she agreed that was the safer option. Snow kissed Neal's forehead.

"Have a good afternoon with sissy." She cooed. Snow could feel that someone was watching her. She turned around to find that someone was actually the entire room. "What?" She asked. Silence. Until one of the bolder moms spoke up for the group.

"Snow…are you sure Emma babysitting right now is a good idea? She seems a little…tense." The mother said as politely as she had to. Emma felt her face brighten even more. Snow felt anger make her face flush. How dare this woman question her parenting choices, or her daughter'a ability to control herself.

"Quite sure." Snow replied curtly. "I suppose working as hard as Emma is to protect this town would make her a little tense. As would coming in here and seeing me having time with Neal that she never got because she was taken away, partially so she could become the Saviour to save us all from the curse. I think a little quality time with her baby brother might be just the ticket to help her relax a little after such a stressful day. Then, later on, I'll make my daughter her favourite dinner as a thank you for doing such a wonderful job of watching Neal for me so me and her father could have some time to ourselves." Snow responded. She wouldn't have anyone talk either of her children down. She turned back to Emma, giving her a reassuring smile. "Have a lovely afternoon, you two." She said. "Go and have some down time together." Emma smiled gratefully, she needed to hear all that.

"Thanks mom." Emma responded. Snow knew that wasn't just a thank you for her last statement, she caught the real meaning behind it.

"Any time Em, any time."