a/n: just a little something that won't go away. chalk it up to me finding the charming/swan family dynamic interesting. this one focuses mainly on emma and her parents. the usual disclaimer still applies, so on and so forth.

The next morning found Emma trudging down the stairs for a late breakfast, since she tried to sleep in to make up for the exciting events the previous night. Neal had already gone to school by this time.

Snow and David were having a muted conversation in the dining room as Emma came in. They stopped and turned to see their daughter, hair tousled and still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Good morning sunshine!" said Snow merrily. "Had a good night's rest?"

Emma plopped onto her chair and poured herself a bowl of cereal. "Yup. Although I think I felt a weight around my middle sometime at the crack of dawn. But then it went away."

"That would be your brother, Emma," David said. "He wanted to stay and watch over you just in case anything happens again. Your mom and I thought that was very cute so we let him sleep with you in your bed. He even made sure to be quiet once he woke up so he won't disturb your beauty sleep."

"Oh. That explains it," Emma replied with her mouth full. She looked very much interested in her cereal now.

So Neal stayed with her for the rest of the night. Her adult, rational mind thinks it's somewhat an overkill as she was quite sure no other bug would pester her again. But then the thought of her brother making sure of her safety and comfort was, well, comforting more than her family would ever know. It has been some years since Snow had told Emma to get used to being put first, yet Emma is still awed sometimes at how loved she is by her family.

The three adults then sat in silence companionably, Snow and David nursing their cups of coffee while Emma finished up with her breakfast. When the silence went longer than what was deemed comfortable by Emma's standards, she glanced at her parents. Her hunch was right.

Snow and David were bursting to say something but looked apprehensive at the same time. Emma wasn't one to beat around the bush so she opened the floodgates for them.

"Okay guys, speak. I know you want to," Emma said, raising an eyebrow at Snow and David.

Her parents finally let out the laughter they've been suppressing.

"Flying cockroach?" Snow chortled, wiping tears from her eyes.

Emma glared at her mother. "Not funny, mom! I'm only acquainted with the crawling type, and they're gross enough as it is!"

"And really Emma, a broom?" David snorted.

"Neal was the one using it, not me!"

"Ever heard of bug spray? We do have that here in Storybrooke, you know. Made with natural ingredients and all." Snow poked her daughter in the side.

Emma sat back in a huff and crossed her arms. She looked very much like a four-year-old who's not allowed sweets for breakfast. "Oh I don't know, we've never had a bug problem till yesterday, now have we?" she said sarcastically.

Still laughing, David moved to wrap his now pouting daughter in his arms. "You got us there, sweetie. But if you must know, Neal even inspected every nook and cranny of this house before he left for school. He said something about making sure there's no family of roaches out to get you."

"Isn't he the most adorable kid ever?" Snow chimed in.

"I wish I took a video!"

"Of Neal playing inspector-slash-exterminator today?" Emma asked her dad.

"No. Of last night!" Emma's parents practically roared with laughter.

"Well, it's nice to see that the both of you are having a good start to your day at my expense," Emma said. She stood up. "As it happens, I'll be getting my bonus today. But only Neal gets a treat." Emma resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at her mom and dad and went up the stairs to her bedroom, only to hear them call her name along with apologies and failing miserably as they dissolved once more in peals of laughter.

Oh, yes. And what a treat her baby brother will get. A huge, lovely ice cream sundae, Emma thought. Five scoops of ice cream with gobs of chocolate syrup and a generous smattering of sprinkles. She smiled. Neal will love that.

fin

as ever, thanks for reading. :)