Too much responsibility

Neongenesievang asked for a oneshot of Emma being the oldest child in the EF. After an event involving her siblings, she finally complains to her parents that they always say she's responsible for protecting them. But who looks out for her? Who sets her an example?

Being the oldest in the family sucked. At least that's what Emma would tell anyone should they ask her. She felt like she was constantly being nagged at to look out for her younger siblings. She was meant to always be the sensible one. She was supposed to make sure they were all behaving themselves. How was she meant to control four kids?! She wasn't that much older than them, especially Neal and Rosie. Like Neal would ever listen to what Emma told him to do. So when a food fight broke out amongst the siblings whilst they got bored waiting for their parents, of course it would be Emma that got the blame.

"Come on Emma, you're supposed to be the responsible one." Snow told her off. "You should know not to let them be so irresponsible, let alone join in."

"I only gave as good as I got!" The fifteen year old defended herself. She had only launched her spoonful of peas at Christopher after he had gotten gravy laden potato all matted in her hair. He asked for it!

"Emma." Charming warned her. "We realise it's not entirely your fault…"

"Do you?!" Emma interrupted him, finally snapping. "Because whenever stuff like this happens, it always seems to be me that takes the fall for it, when it's almost never me who started it! So what if I'm the oldest? How am I supposed to be the person setting an example for them. That just means they're screwed, because who am I meant to be getting an example from, exactly?" Emma asked. She didn't give her parents a chance to answer. "It's meant to be me that looks out for them, stop them getting hurt, but who looks out for me?" Emma got up from the table. "I'm not hungry." She muttered, storming past her parents, ignoring their calls for her to come back.

Snow and Charming gave Emma an hour or so to cool off before going up to her room together to speak with her. Emma pretended to be asleep.

"We know you're awake." Charming said gently. Emma stayed facing away from them, not wanting them to see her tear stained face. She felt her bed dip as her parents sat on the edge.

"Emma, we're sorry if you've felt like there's too much pressure on you." Snow said gently, placing a hand on Emma's leg. "We know you're still just a child yourself…"

"I'm not a child." Emma grumbled. Snow and Charming smiled warmly. To them, she was, but they wouldn't fight her on that.

"Well, even so, it's not your responsibility to look after your siblings. It's ours. Just like it's our responsibility to look after you. Emma, we'd never let anyone hurt you, ever. So to answer your question, we look out for you." Charming told her. Emma just shrugged, feeling emotionally drained. Snow and Charming had done and said all they could for now. They knew actions spoke louder than words. They would have to remind Emma that she mattered as much as her younger siblings, and was just as protected as them.