By the time Snow arrived back Emma was sat on Charming's lap, her thumb in her mouth as she watched Alice.
"Alright what's the emergency?" She asked as she hung her coat up. Charming looked around, his face almost guilty looking as Emma's head popped up from his chest.
"Mommy!" She exclaimed excitedly, wiggling in an attempt to get off of Charming's lap, though his arms held her there.
Snow's heart melted at hearing the word come from her daughter, having given up hope on ever hearing it.
"Hi Baby." She greeted, stepping towards the couch and shooting Charming a questioning look.
"What're you doing?" Snow asked, kissing Emma's head gently.
"Alice!" Emma explained, pointing to the screen with a beaming grin.
"An' Daddy cuddwes!" She snuggled herself back down into his chest as the screen caught her attention again, her thumb settling back between her lips.
"She's been like this since she woke up." Charming explained quietly, though even his almost whispered words earned him a huff and a stomach slap from Emma.
"No hitting." Snow reprimanded instantly and Emma turned her head to look up at Snow, her bottom lip wobbling violently and tears filling her eyes.
Snow felt her heart clench at the sight of her daughters tears and she did her best to keep her face firm. As much as it hurt, she couldn't let Emma hit people.
"Say you're sorry to Daddy." She said, choosing to use the same name for her husband that Emma herself had used.
Emma turned her mournful eyes on her Father, letting out a quiet wail of:
"Dowwy Daddy!"
Charming squeezed her gently and kissed her head.
"It's okay Princess. But Mommy's right, no hitting." He told her and she nodded, still pouting slightly as she turned her head again to watch Alice.
"Can Daddy go and talk with Mommy? Do you think you can sit and watch Alice by yourself?" Charming asked hopefully, and after a second, Emma let out a grumpy huff and nodded, clambering off Charming's lap and curling on the couch alone.
Charming hopped to his feet quickly, unsure as to how long they'd have as he pulled Snow into the kitchen, making sure he kept the couch in sight at all times.
"What is going on?" Snow asked in a hushed tone once Charming turned to her and he bit his lip sheepishly.
"She's been like that since she woke up. Like a toddler..." He explained, quickly glancing back at the couch, smiling when he could see Emma's blonde hair draped over the arm.
"Did anything happen when I left?" Snow asked, biting her lip in concern. Charming shrugged slightly, turning his attention back to his wife.
"Nothing that I know of..." He admitted. He'd been trying not to think of it, worried that maybe it was their fault.
"Did you ask her?"
"Huh?"
"Emma. Did you ask her if anything happened?" Snow crossed her arms over her chest, raising her eyebrow at her husband. If it weren't for the fact that there might genuinely be something wrong with her daughter, she would have laughed at how clueless Charming was.
"No? I didn't think..." Charming bit his lip, his cheeks tingeing a light red colour and Snow rolled her eyes, kissing the darkened skin.
"I'll go ask now." She told him before moving back towards the couch, crouching before Emma, who still seemed to be sulking at the fact she'd been left.
"Hey baby..." She greeted before resting a hand on Emma's knee. Emma grinned at her from around a mouthful of hair.
"Mommy~!" Emma exclaimed again and Snow couldn't help the grin that graced her face as she gently moved Emma's hair back.
"Can you tell Mommy something? Did anything happen when you woke up with Daddy? Did something make you sad or hurt you?" She asked gently, rubbing her leg. Emma frowned and shook her head.
"No Mommy. Happy!" Emma explained with a bright grin, grabbing at Snow's hair with one hand.
"Have Mommy an' Daddy. Happy!" She paused, sucking on her bottom lip for a second.
"But... big me no be happy... Big me no like me." She frowned, wondering how to phrase it properly. It was hard to talk sometimes, she didn't know lots of words and couldn't say some of the ones she did know. And although she knew that Mommy was magic, she doubted even Mommy's magic would help her understand.
"What do you mean 'big you' sweetie?" Snow kept stroking Emma's leg gently, thoroughly confused by her daughters choice of wording.
"Big me!" Emma frowned deeper as she struggled to articulate her thoughts, whining unhappily.
"Growed up me. No like me. A'coz me baby. Make big me mad. No wan' Mommy an' Daddy know 'bout me." She rambled, hoping to get her point across.
"Big you doesn't want me and Daddy to know about you?" Snow checked, worried for Emma's mental state. She was talking like there were two of her. Could that possible be true?
Emma nodded, still sucking on her bottom lip in worry.
"Well, Mommy promises to talk to big you later. So you don't have to worry, okay?"
"Okay Mommy!"
