WOW GUYS, THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS! AGAIN, I'D BE GLAD TO HEAR YOUR SONG/SCENARIO SUGGESTIONS.
DON'T OWN IT. SONG IS CALLED 'I WON'T GIVE UP' BY JASON MRAZ.
I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
They sit in silence this morning, no one knowing what to say. Snow and Charming can't seem to stop smiling, and Henry's mood has only improved (as if that was possible). Everyone notices that while Emma's eyes hold happiness, they also look more scared than anyone has ever seen.
"This isn't going to be easy, Emma." Snow places a hand over her daughter's, recognizing that fear. She knows the rejection, the certainty that the other shoe will fall any second. She doesn't want Emma to live in fear anymore.
"Huh?" Emma mumbles with a mouth full of food, and Snow opens hers to chide her about manners, but closes it and scrutinizes her daughter more closely. It's then that she notices the dark circles under her eyes.
"You didn't sleep." The brunette comments. Emma visibly swallows.
"Yes I did."
"You didn't sleep well."
"Well is a relative term." She forks another bite of eggs into her mouth. "I don't think you guys slept, either." A blush crept up her parents' necks.
"Don't talk back." James says lamely.
"Guess what, Dad. I have a tattoo." Emma says, then frowns when James and Snow look at each other, perplexed. "Really?"
"I don't think it was a joke. It was said with sarcasm." Snow says.
"I'm not sure what it was." James agrees.
"It was a retort. You know, fathers always tell their kids not to get tattoos…? Really not ringing a bell?"
"No." They both shake their heads.
"Stop joking." The force in Snow's voice surprises Emma, and everyone knows it. "This isn't a game. This isn't some random guy's heart your screwing with. This is your family. I don't know if you even consider us that, yet. I am not going to sit around and watch you wall yourself in and never come out because you're scared of getting hurt again, scared that this is just some dream. We are never going to leave you. I know actions speak louder than words to you, but you're just going to have to take our word for it until we can show you. This isn't easy for any of us, but we just have to trust one another and understand it's not going to be perfect, and it's gonna have a rocky start. One thing runs in the family: it's our ability to get through anything and moreover, for love. That's something we all have. None of us really knows anything about family, but we're learning together." No one knows how to respond, so they think the best course of action is to be quiet. Finally, Emma speaks, but quietly.
"I know. I trust you. I just- it's gonna take some time. I need you guys to understand that. I went from having no one care about me and thinking my parents threw my away like a piece of trash, maybe even trying to kill me, to having parents who cared so much they sent me away so I wouldn't get cursed. That's a lot to take in, and it's a huge change. It may be a while before I fully disclose myself, but it will happen. I just need time. I'm trying. I know it's worth it. I'm not trying to close myself off, it's just a reflex. It can't be broken overnight. Like Mom said, it might be rough, but I promise I won't give up. Just don't give up on me."
"Oh Emma, we won't." Snow embraces her.
"I just wanna put my two cents in." Henry pipes up. "I couldn't ask for anything more. I have everything I ever wanted –a family who loves me. Sure, it's a little messed up, but…" He shrugs. "It couldn't be more perfect for us."
"Where did you get so smart?" James asks, bringing his plate to the sink.
"I dunno." Henry shrugs. "Grandma's a good teacher." They laugh. Henry is completely embracing the whole 'family thing'. Though, he still second guesses himself. "Can I call you that?"
"Of course." Snow says. Henry's smile is contagious.