Still afraid

Lacorra asked for a oneshot of Emma continuing to hide things from her family. Snow has it out with her about her still not coming to her when she's scared. Emma has a breakthrough where she realises she'll always be enough for Snow.

Emma flinched as her mom cleaned out the cut above her eyebrow. This was a tangible silence in the room, and an awkward one at that. Emma could feel the frustration radiating of her mom. She sighed as her mom got another antibacterial wipe ready.

"I know I should have told you that Gideon asked me to meet him." Emma admitted. "I'm sorry, but I just..well…"

"Got scared?" Snow finished for her. Snow took Emma's silence as confirmation that she was correct. She could see that Emma was surprised that she knew exactly why her daughter hadn't told anybody where she was going. "Well it's not like we haven't been here before, Emma." Snow said, her frustration coming to the surface. "You keep hiding things from us whenever you get afraid. Emma, I don't know how many times I can keep telling you this, it's when you're afraid that you should come talk to me. You're about to face perhaps the toughest fight of your life, and I don't know about you but I am terrified. I know your father is as well. We don't exactly enjoy having to let our child face these villains alone. So we'd both appreciate it while you have a chance, you let us help you. It's difficult to protect you when you keep us in the dark." Snow said honestly. If she wanted Emma to learn how to be honest with her, she had to be honest with Emma. Emma looked down at the floor.

"I don't do well with fear." Emma said quietly. "My usual reaction is to run as far away as possible, so believe it or not this is an improvement. I don't want you and dad to get involved. You have enough to worry about." Snow tracked Emma's gaze over to her brother. She put her hand under Emma's chin and made her look up at her.

"What you really mean is you're worried we won't help because we'll pick your brother over you?" Snow suggested. Again, she took Emma's silence as a yes. Snow sighed. She bent down so she was eye level with Emma. "I have no doubt that, one day, you will have more children. When you do, does that mean you'll love Henry any less? That you'd abandon him for his younger siblings?

"Of course not. He's my son." Emma said firmly. Snow smiled at her.

"Exactly." Snow said. Emma understood exactly what her mother was saying. She couldn't help but break down in tears. Snow quickly pulled her into a comforting hug. They had all overcome so much since the first curse was broken. Snow wasn't naïve though, she knew Emma still had plenty of walls that needed broken.