The faulty gene
Another one of mine. Based heavily on Grey's anatomy. Snow and Emma share a faulty gene so both have to undergo major surgery. Trigger warning for cancer.
There were plenty of things people from the Enchanted Forest missed about home. The simple lifestyle. The neighbourly atmosphere. The good times. One thing nobody missed was their answer to medical care. They quite liked the science and the drugs from this world.
When Snow began to have bad stomach cramps, she thought nothing of it. She'd given birth twice, once without much medical assistance. She thought it was all par for the course. Charming, on the other hand, wasn't so convinced. He eventually managed to convince Snow to go to the hospital and get it properly checked out. He was glad he did. She had a tumour growing inside her bladder. A big one. Snow was then told that there was a chance the tumour was caused by a faulty gene. Meaning there was a chance Emma, Henry and Neal could have it too. They were both immediately tested. Snow couldn't describe the guilt she was feeling. Her children and grandson's lives could be endangered because of her, or so she felt, no matter how many times Charming told her none of this was her fault.
Whilst Snow was talked through her options for the tumour she had growing in her bladder, they waited for Emma and Neal's results. They came back a week later. Neal and Henry were clear, but Emma had the gene. She too was then talked through her options. She could take her chances. After all, there was a chance that nothing would come of having this faulty genes. However, the odds were stacked against her. There was at least a seventy five percent chance Emma would also develop bladder cancer at some point in her life. That was too high a chance for Emma to be willing to take. So she was talked through some of the options her mother had been given for her tumour removal. Much like Emma, Snow could simply have the tumour removed and go on with her life. However, the chances were the cancer would return if she didn't take action.
In the end, both Snow and Emma went for the same option. They would have their natural bladders removed and have neobladders installed in their place. It would mean some serious lifestyle changes, and have a long road to recovery, but it also meant security from worrying about their faulty gene causing cancer at any time. To them, that was worth it.
So both Snow and Emma where scheduled for their surgeries on the same day. Snow went in first, then a few hours later, Emma went in. Charming had Neal stay with Regina so he could be there for both his girls. He was there when Snow woke up, stayed with her for a while to check she was ok, then (at her insistence) made his way through to sit with Emma until she woke up. Luckily, both operations had gone exactly to plan. It didn't make Charming any less nervous as he waited for Emma to wake up. Clearly, he wasn't the only nervous one. As he waited, he heard a wheelchair being wheeled into the room. Without turning, he knew exactly who it was.
"Should you even be out of bed?" Charming asked.
"Probably not, but my daughter just had very invasive surgery. I wanted to be here when she woke up. Just like you." Snow said as the nurse brought her in beside Charming. He smiled before kissing her.
"How are you feeling?" He asked her.
"Sore." She admitted. "But the pain is worth it to know I'll see my son grow up. To know I'll grow old with you." Snow said, reaching out and touching his face. She turned her attention back to Emma. "Any information?" She asked.
"Just that it all went to plan. She should wake up soon." Charming told her. Snow nodded, resting her head against Charming's shoulder. Truth be told, she was quite uncomfortable sitting there, but she would refuse to move until she saw her daughter wake up. She already felt guilty that Emma had to go through surgery in the first place.
Time seemed to go by painfully slowly as they waited. Eventually though, Emma's eyes began to flutter open. Snow and Charming felt like they could finally breath.
"Hey there princess." Charming said quietly. "How you feeling?"
"I don't really know." Emma said groggily. Her head was spinning. Was her mom sitting there too? "You should be in bed." She muttered. Snow smiled, reaching out and putting some hair behind Emma's ear.
"I was, but I had to check on you." Snow told her. "Emma, again, I'm so sorry…"
"Not your fault." Emma said, her voice becoming sluggish. Charming leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"Go back to sleep." He told her. "You've earned it." Emma didn't need told twice. Her eyes felt like they were being pulled together like magnets. Within a minute, she was asleep again. Charming then got up and stood behind Snow.
"As for you," He began, starting to wheel her out the room "let's get you back to bed."
"If you insist." Snow sighed. "I expect regular reports though."
"You'll get them when I come to check on you." Charming promised her. He was trying to get them moved into the same room anyway. It wasn't going to be easy. Both Snow and Emma now had to adjust to a foreign lifestyle. There were going to be bumps in the road, but Charming would be there for both of them every step of the way.
