Chapter 3

When Emma comes out of the shower she was instantly greeted by the smell of bacon and eggs. Apparently Henry's complaints of pancakes were able to influence this morning's breakfast menu. Emma laughs at this thought.

She walks over to the kitchen table to sit in the seat next to Henry. James comes over with a plate and sets it down in front of her. "Thanks." She looks around. "Where's..."

"She went upstairs to make the bed," James answers, "... but she's been up there a while. I'll go get her."

"No no... let me. You sit. I'll be right back." She hopped up the stairs two at a time. When she pushed the door open she found Snow sitting at the edge of the bed with her hands clasped together in her lap and a very solemn look on her face. "Okay now..." She starts to say in a firm tone, "You can't tell me nothing is wrong. Something's going on here. What is it?"

"Emma... It's just that..." She inhales deeply and exhales with a loud sigh before finishing. "I guess I'm just jealous of you." She grins awkwardly at her own confession.

"Jealous? Of me? Why?" Emma asks disbelieving as she moves to stand closer to Snow, placing her hands on her own hips.

"Henry, he's so young. Even though you didn't get to raise him as a baby you have him now. He's young enough for you to still enjoy him."

"Oh..." Emma whispers. She finally understood. "I..." She starts to say with a shake of her head.

"I'm sorry. I know we've been through a lot and the last thing you need is for me to make you feel guilty but you know last night... it just... It was the first time I was able to have a nice moment with you. James was acting like a man... " she laughs.

"... and I was sent in to butter you up. Yeah, I remember." Emma says nodding and laughing. "I know... It... I mean everything just feels awkward now you know? I had a hard enough time letting Mary Margaret act like my mother and now, well, you are my mother but we look the same age." She gives Snow a look. "I... am jealous of Henry." She laughs and lets her hands drop to her thighs in an exasperated gesture.

"Jealous of Henry?" Snow says shaking her head. "I don't understand."

"He gets to be held and loved like any normal kid would. I mean yeah I love him and I'm enjoying every moment I get to be with him but he's getting something I'm not. He gets to be wrapped up in his mother's arms without needing an excuse... only needing to know that he is loved. I don't get that. I mean... I'm right there with you. Last night was one of those few moments where I actually felt like I was yours and James daughter. It was nice..."

"It was..." Snow agrees with a small smile.

"... but it didn't make it any less awkward for me."

"I understand, but I already told you... you don't need to wait for an excuse to be close to us Emma." She smiles warmly.

"I know... and you don't know how hard it is for me. I want so badly to let you... to let you just hold me and coddle me whenever you want but my mind is screaming that it's also wrong. I can't help how you look to me. I can't help how we have ended up together. I'm trying to get past it though. I'm trying hard to let you do what you need to as a parent while trying to accept the idea of who and what you are to me... We'll figure it out."

"Yes. Yes we will and... I'm sorry for how I was behaving." She offers.

"Don't be." She says with a shrug and a smile.

"Can I hug you now?" Snow asks with a grin.

Emma rolls her eyes but can't fight the smile breaking out on her face. "Okay," she drawls out.

Snow only laughs at her response but stands to embrace her all the same. She squeezes her tightly and teases, "Oh, you don't fool me. I know you like it."

They both laugh before breaking apart to make their way downstairs.

James glances up at the two as they come down the stairs, "What took you? I was afraid there wasn't going to be any food left once Henry got started here."

"Oh, we were just discussing the point system for this morning's breakfast." Emma says with a grin.

"Point system?" He asks with an arched brow.

"Yeah... the one that gets you out of the dog house if this all goes well."

"I'm trying to get her to forgive me here. Why do you have to keep bringing that up Emma?" He asks playfully.

"Hey, it's what I do." She smiles.

"That's my girl." Snow adds with a nod before they all laugh and start on their breakfasts.

"Emma... this is not what I had in mind when I sent you to your mother last night."

"Aha! I knew it James! I knew you were trying to use Emma against me... you and your devious plans!" Snow shouts wanting to appear threatening while trying to hold back her own laughter.

Henry says in a whisper as he leans over to Emma. "Mom? Your parents are weird."

"Don't I know it." She says with a wink. "Shall we begin with the breakfast scoring or has the confession of my being the peace offering last night put him back in the dog house?"

"Emma." James grumbles. "You are so your Mother's daughter." He finishes, smiling and shaking his head at the realization.

"Well!" She says in a gasp feigning appall. "That's definitely the last time you can count on me to smooth things over with Mom for you Dad." Emma laughs. Though she addressed her parents in a joking manner it did not prevent their eyes from tearing up at the endearments.

Though no happy tears fell there were more laughs shared in the moments that followed as they all enjoyed a peaceful family breakfast.

***Awwwww, how wonderfully cheesy this turned out. Quite right? I hope at least some, if not most of you, enjoyed this story. This story garnered more attention than my others have so I guess I did something right here.

I do get bored easily so I don't anticipate adding more to this fic but if an idea comes... as with any other story... I will not hesitate to share.

Thanks again for the reads, follows, and kind/clever/unique reviews. They were entertaining for ME to read but they motivate as well ;)

Peace Out!