Sorry for such the delay in this chapter, I kind of lost this story a little bit hopefully back on track... Just a warning the story has jumped a little in time. Would be very grateful for your opinions.
Emma watched her Mom from her position on the floor. The scowl deep set on her face. She was holding the baby again, it wasn't fair. Ever since her baby brother was born, it was all everyone around her seem to go on about.
Snow who was sitting on the couch with baby Leo in her arms, sighed when she saw the look on her daughter's face. It had been a hard couple of months.
When Leo was born, 2 months ago. He had to spend a few extra days in the hospital, he had been born earlier than planned. Much like his older sister, only this time there wasn't a theat of a curse looming over their heads. At the expertise of the Doctors and Nurses of this land to help.
Except all this hadn't really been fair on Emma, as both her and Charming had maybe focused on the new addition more than they had liked to or even meant to. The result of this was that Emma was having delayed terrible twos.
"Hey Em, you want to help me bath Leo? " she was hoping to make Emma at least feel involved.
"No." was her one worded answer, before she went back to the toy in her hand.
Snow hoped Charming would be home soon they couldn't continue like this.
Whilst Snow had been pregnant, Emma had been so excited about becoming a big sister. She didn't stop talking about her plans once the baby arrived. Snow hated seeing her happy go lucky daughter like this.
When Charming walked through the door, he could sense the tense atmosphere immediately. He knew he had to go work everyday, but being in this world left them with no family as such, to help Snow out with the children. If they were back home, it would have been a different story. There would be a number of close friends, people who they called family, who would have loved to give Emma all the attention she needed at this diffucult time. Or taken Leo for a few hours to give Snow a break, whilst he was at worked running the Kingdom.
They didn't regrete having another baby, they loved Leo so much. It wasn't like they could put their life on hold because of the curse. But it did mean it had been tough few months.
Charming was just about to search the house for his family, when he heard Snow's voice fron upstairs.
"Emma Ruth Nolan! What have you done in here!"
Charming took at deep breath and took the stairs two at a time. Reaching Leo's nursery, it didnt take a genius to work out what Snow was yelling at. The talc that they used for the baby was now spead around the room. Snow looked to be a breaking point.
Walking up to Snow he took the wipes out of her hand. "Hey Snow, I got this. Why don't you go and lay down for a bit."
Snow wanted to cry with relief at the sight of Charming. Not being able to get the words out of her mouth she smiled appreciatively and nodded her head. Before she walked off, she stood on tiptoes and gave Charming a kiss on his cheek.
Leo was falling alseep in his chair so once the mess was cleaned up, he placed his infant son in the cot. It was now time to go and see his daughter, this had to stop.
Emma was in her favourite hiding spot in her room. It was the place she always went to when she knew she was in trouble.
"Emma you can come out now. You aren't in trouble. Well not in trouble that much."
Charming spotted her little blond head peaking out. "Really? Mommy sound pretty mad."
"She was, can you blame her. That was quiet a mess you made."
He walked over to her bed, sitting down, patting the spot next to him for Emma. "Come on, we need to talk don't you think."
Emma walked dejectedely over to her father, she slumped down onto the bed.
"Talk to me Emma, this isn't you. Why are you behaving this way?" Charming knew that there wasnt much point in yelling at her, it wasnt going to solve the main problem.
Emma's eyes filled with tears, it broke his heart a little. Pulling her closer so she was tucked into his side. "You know Mommy and I love you so much right, and just because we love Leo now too. It does not mean that we love you any less."
Snow, who had been standing by the door listerning to her husband. Walked into the room. With her emoutions getting the best of her, tears leaked from her eyes. Charming smiled at he reassuringly, whilst moving over to also give her room on the bed.
"Oh Emma, is that what you hav been thinking. Daddy is right, of course we still love you. You are our little Princess." it was Snow's turn to hug Emma.
They waited until she had calmed down. All laying together on the small single bed. "You know what" Charming stated to his two girls "we haven't told you a story in a long time. You want to hear one now?"
Emma smiled, it was a one that lit up her face, and warmed both her patents hearts at seeing it. "Really! Right now?"
"Why not?" Snow answered. "which one is it going to be David?"
Charming thought of a story he could tell Emma, she was still a little small, so nothing too upsetting, unfortunately, most of their own story was full of heartache. Ones he would rather not think of right now.
"Ok how about we tell you about the time that Prince Charming, woke Snow White up after she ate the apple."
Snow was shocked, wondering why Charming went for that story in particular "Really David, you sure?"
"Yeah, I think so. It may start off sad but for Prince Charming. It was ONE of the happiest days of his life." he beamed his all glowing smile. The one that lit up his eyes. every time he smiled like this, she was caught off guard at how much it was exactly like Emma's full watt smile. Though she was still a little unsure where he was going with this story, but decided to trust him.
"Why's that Daddy? " Emma had now completely forgot that she was upset, or should have been in trouble.
"Well we have to start at the beginning for that one. You of course know why Snow was in her glass coffin, dont you?"
"Of course, she ate a posion apple from the Evil Queen." she said boldly, being able to answer the question correctly.
Charming was not going to go into how, and most definitely why, the apple was bitten into in the first place. Letting Emma go with this world's version.
"Yes thats right." he said this with a lump in his throat, he wanted to move pass this bit as quickly as possible. "well it took the Prince and long time to find where Snow White was. The ring that they fought together to get back from the Trolls, the ring that Charming wanted so very much to give to Snow, was enchated by a very cleaver, very devious ummm.." Charming was stuck on how to describe Rumple to Emma.
"Magical creatute?" Snow supplied for him, finding it funny at Charming trying to be polite in front of their daughter. She was sure he wanted to use other names for good old Rumplstinskin.
"Close enough. Yes magical creature." He said through gritted teeth.
"Was he good then? If he helped the Prince find Snow White, he must have been." Emma interrupted before the story could be continued.
Snow and Charming looked at each other. There was a reason why they were telling these stories to Emma, but it was alway boarder line what they should say. Not wanting to lie to her, with line with her needing to know the truth, or at least this stage part of the truth.
"Well, it is a little difficult to explain." Charming started. He looked back over to his wife, begging her to help explain the wonder that was - suppose is, of Rumpleskitskin.
"As Daddy said its a little difficult. But the best way I can think of explain is well.. Ok.. Rumple looked after himself, he pretty much got things his way. If helping you, helped him, then yes he was handy to have around. But if you wanted to do something that he didnt like, he made sure it didn't happen some how." Snow hoped her daughter would understand.
Emma took her Mom's words in, thinking carefully. "So, because Rumple wanted Prince Charming to find Snow White, he helped." this fairytale was a little confusing at times.
"That is exatctly right." Charming had diffucult in understanding Rumple, he marveled at the fact Emma got it that quickly. "Rumple charmed the ring so it shone brighter as the Prince was nearing Snow's cabin. When he got there and saw her in the coffin. Well it was very hard for him." Charming cleared his throat.
"Hey Charming, it worked out more than fine for them" Snow said over the top of Emma's head. "Its a good story remember."
The small individual sitting between them watched her parents carefully. The more she heard about this Snow White and her Prince Charming. The more she was confused about her parents reaction to the stories. She never said anything though, but something was odd about the whole thing.
"Yes right.. The Prince wanted to kiss Snow White one last time. So he leaned in a placed a kiss right here" with that he leaned over to Snow and kissed her swiftly and gently on her lips, purposely crushing Emma slightly between the two of them.
"ugggghh Daddy get off" Emma tried and failed completely to sound serious, her laughter giving her away.
"Alright then, just thought it would be better showing you." Charming returned to his correct side of the bed. All three of them were laughing. It was such a different atmosphere than what he walked into a little earlier.
"Magic swept through everyone surrounding them, when the Prince kissed Snow. When her eyes opened the Prince was so happy, there aren't the words to describe how he felt. But he knew, or at least had faith that it was all going to be ok, they were together and had their whole lives ahead of them."
"They had found each other." Snow added in a quiet whisper, she was so caught up in Charming's words, she hadn't even noticed that she had said anything.
"Did you ever doubt they would?" Charming answered her with a knowing grin.
Snow couldn't help the words that left her lips next, it was almost automatic "Truthfully, the glass coffin gave me pause."
"Pause for what Mommy?" they were doing that thing again. Emma wondered if other parents cared about fairytales as much as her parents did. She made a mental note to reminded herself to ask Suzanne, at school next if her parents were the same.
"Nothing." Snow replied quickly.
"Anyway, Snow and the Prince went for a walk in the forest, looking over the water at the castle Snow White grew up in. And the Prince FINALLY got to give that very special ring to the woman he loved, just like he promised his Mother when she gave it to him. They promised each other that they were going to get Snow's castle and Kingdom back. Together."
"Let me guess. They lived happily. ever. after." Emma asked, almost bored herself with the over used phases.
"Welllll, yes and no. It most certainly isn't the end of their story." Charming had to agree with his daughter about the use of that phase. Remembering that day, it was definitely not the end of their story.
"It's more like the beginning." Snow finished his trail of thought.
"Do I get to hear it?" Emma asked hopefully..
"Not today." Snow was just about to explain a little as to why, when she heard Leo start to cry. At least he managed to sleep a little.
"I better go and see what the little man wants, if he is anything like his father it be food." Snow teased a little, what made it more perfect was just at that point, Charming's stomach growled loudly.
Emma found this so funny that she had tears rolling down her face. Snow and Charming were just glad to see her happy persona back.
Before leaving the room Snow placed a kiss on Emma's forehead, "No more naughty behaviour. Ok"
Emma nodded her head, she realised that maybe she had been a bit silly "Hey Mommy?"
Snow had just reached the door when she heard Emma's small voice "hmm?"
"Well I was just wondering if you wanted any help?"
Snow was speechless for a moment, it was the first time since Leo was born that Emma wanted something to do with him. Chamring continue to lay in the bed, smiling, at that momet he knew they were going to have a more peaceful household. A fact he was looking forward to.
Snapping out of her relive, Snow quickly answered yes, before Emma could change her mind.
Mother and daughter left to see to the smallest member of the family, whilst Charming went to sort out edible dinner for them all.