HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN! So I decided to do something special for you since this is technically your first birthday that I've been friends with you so, with a lot of help from some friends, we wrote you a bunch of mini fics to one shots to ficlets on a whole range of your favorite Once characters. Have an absolutely fantastic, amazing, awesome, hilarious magical birthday you lovely lady. You absolutely deserve it you Emma Swan you ;) Hope you like them!

23. Hot chocolate is the only thing the charmings will ever drink when they're upset. Now Emma needs some more then ever after Neal is gone. And only Snow can make her feel better when she wakes up in the middle of the night to knock on their door.

Written by: Kenzie

I stand in my bedroom doorway, a sad smile forming on my face. Emma is hopelessly attempting to make her own hot chocolate. Only this time, she needs it now more than ever. It is two in the morning. She's been in her bedroom crying since eight last night. Six hours, my daughter cried over the loss of Neal. I knew she still had felt something for him. And now, he's gone. I hear a pot fall to the kitchen floor with a crash.

"Shit!" I hear Emma whisper loudly.

I decide to go and comfort my daughter. I walk out into the kitchen. "I thought I might find you here."

Her head is stuck in a cabinet, searching for god-knows-what. Emma brings her head up and hits it on the top of the cabinet. "Ow!" she mutters. "Dammit..."

I come behind the counter and gently touch her shoulder. "Emma, let me help. Please?"

Slowly, Emma comes out of the cabinet. Her eyes are red and puffy. She's still been crying for hours. Her hair is a complete mess. My baby girl is heartbroken. I take the pan from her gently and set it onto the stovetop. I go into the pantry and get the chocolate to melt. When I come back out, Emma is sitting up on the countertop like a little girl, her legs swinging back and forth. I turn on the stove and put the chocolate in to melt.

"Mary Margaret?" she asks.

I turn around. "Yes, Emma?"

She swallows. "Um, how did you know I was up?"

I leave the stove and take her hand. "When my mother died, I went to the kitchens in the middle of the night, dragged Johanna out of her bedroom, and made hot chocolate with her. Ad there was the fact you were causing quite a loud commotion." Emma does not meet my gaze. She's not ready to talk yet. So, I go back to making the hot chocolate. I get the milk from the fridge, and the whisk from the utensil drawer. After the chocolate has melted, I pour some milk into the saucepan and stir it slowly.

"I miss him," she finally says. By now, the hot chocolate is finished. I shut off the stove and turn around. That's when I see the tears running down her face.

"Oh Emma, honey," I say softly. I sit up on the counter next to her, and I pull my daughter into my arms. "I know you do, Emma."

For the first time, she allows me to comfort her. She shakes with each sob that escapes her lips. I wish I could do more to help her, but I can't. I stroke Emma's hair with my hand. I don't have a magic wand to make everything better. But I do have hot chocolate, and that is known to be a magical cure.

"Come on, let's get some hot chocolate."

She nods and pulls away from me. I stand, get two mugs, and pour the hot chocolate into them. I hand Emma one and she lifts it to her lips. She finishes the mug quickly. Emma rinses it out and sets it down in the sink before turning to me and wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Thank you," she whispers. "I love you, Mom."

I'm stunned. Mom... Emma said 'Mom.' Tears spring to my eyes and I wrap my arms around her tightly. "I love you, too, Emma."

She releases me and shuffles back to her bedroom. I take my mug and finish my hot chocolate. It may not have done a lot for Emma, but for now, it was enough.