Jealous mama bear

Ghaby asked for a oneshot of Emma and Ingrid strengthening their relationship again and Snow getting jealous. Set as though Ingrid didn't have to die to fix the curse of shattered sight.

"It's been lovely catching up again." Ingrid said, hugging Emma tightly. Snow watched on tight lipped from the corner of the living room with her arms folded across her chest.

"Yeah Ingrid, you too." Emma replied, hugging her back just as fondly. If Snow was a less mature woman, she might have unkindly mimicked the two women, but she did have some control over herself. So she just did it in her head instead. Ingrid placed a hand on Emma's cheek and gave her a bright smile. Snow tensed at this action, but again, didn't say anything…out loud.

After that, Ingrid left to go about the rest of her day. Emma smiled, not seeming to notice her mom's bad mood. She liked having Ingrid back in town, and not trying to kill everybody. It was nice having a little piece of her childhood back.

"That was nice." Emma said openly. "It was good being able to properly catch Ingrid up on everything that's happened since I left her as a kid." She said. Snow was now struggling too much to hold back her passive aggressiveness.

"Well I'm glad Ingrid gets told everything that happened to you. I'm sure she was very comforting." She grumbled. At this, Emma knew something was wrong. Her mom was normally happy when Emma was happy.

"Ok, what's wrong?" Emma asked her outright. "Why are you being snippy about me spending time with Ingrid?"

"It's not you two spending time together I have a problem with" (it was). "It's the way she acts around you, Emma. She tried to control you once already. Force you to be part of her family. I still don't trust her not to do it again." Snow answered. Emma smiled. She had a feeling this might happen at some point.

"Is there a chance you're jealous of me spending time with Ingrid?" She asked her, coming and standing in front of her mom. Snow pretended to look like this was a silly suggestion.

"Emma of course I'm not jealous. You can spend time with whoever you want. I just don't trust crazy witches." Emma laughed.

"Yes, Ingrid had a moment of madness, but that's all in the past. She fixed everything, didn't she? No real harm done. She was an important part of my childhood."

"You don't need to remind me of that." Snow sighed sadly. Emma took one of her mother's hands.

"There's no point in lying here. Ingrid was a maternal figure at one point in my life. One of the few who actually gave a damn about me, even if it was for the wrong reasons. Those feelings don't just disappear." Snow hung her head sadly. She knew she could never compete with Ingrid. There was no point in Emma rubbing it in. "Although, that doesn't make Ingrid my mom. I only have one of those, and I could never love another woman like her." Emma told her. Emma's head came up.

"Really?" She asked, feeling hopeful again.

"Really. Besides, I'm surprised you haven't thought of the advantages Ingrid can give you. Right now she's terrified of you because you give her daggers any time you're in eyeshot, but she has no ill will towards you. She can tell you stories about me when I was with her. I'm sure she'd like to do that." Emma told her. Snow's eyes lit up. She pulled Emma into her own maternal hug.

"I'm sorry I've been so silly. I know Ingrid was important to you, and I shouldn't let my own feelings get in the way of that relationship. I'm glad she makes you happy." Snow said. Emma smiled.

"Thanks. Now go call her. I know you want to."

Emma was right. Snow immediately called the former Snow Queen and arranged for them to meet at Granny's. There, Snow was able to ask her all the burning questions she had about her young daughter. Even better, Ingrid was able to answer the majority. Snow was glad Emma had talked her round. Otherwise she never would have got the answers to some of these questions. There's certainly no way Emma would have answered some!