Emma followed Snow as they walked towards the market area. Snow started picking up fabric and other random items just feeling them as she walked by. Emma observed her mom as she tried to get the price down on a piece of fabric with amusement.
"Take it or leave it," The seller finally told Snow, reaching his limit. Snow glanced over at Emma like she would be of help, then returned her attention back to the seller.
"Alright, I'll take it." Snow sighed, giving in as she handed the man his money and grabbed the piece of fabric. They walked away from the table.
"So, basically you haggle the sellers down from their original price, right?" Emma asked, trying to understand the market better. The only thing she really knew about markets was from watching TV. Snow nodded.
"Basically." Snow picked up another item, "How much?" The older lady spoke and Snow shook her head and walked away. She looked at Emma, "You want to try?"
Emma was hesitant, "Eh, not really. I'll just watch you." She saw a brief look of sadness cross her mother's face, "Actually, that sounds kind of fun…let me just find an item I like." Emma smiled, hoping to cheer her mom up. Snow smiled, clearly delighted in the fact that she got to teach Emma something. They continued walking until Emma spotted something: a music box. Snow watched Emma trace the outlines of the box and then open it to a song that was strangely familiar to both of them.
"I used to sing that song to you every night before you were born," Snow gave a weak smile as she approached the box that Emma was messing with. Emma looked over at her with those eyes that reminded Snow so much of Charming's.
"That explains why it's so," Emma looked back at the box, opening it. "…calming." Snow put her hand on Emma's shoulder. Snow instantly felt guilty about sending Emma away for the thousandth time in the last few months they had been together.
She put on a smile for Emma though, "Do you want it?" Emma looked back at Snow and nodded before looking back at the box once more.
"Yeah," Emma paused not wanting to take her parent's money, "but I'll pay for it." Snow's heart ached because she just wanted to buy her kid something like a normal parent. Like she should have done with Emma all the while she was growing up.
"Emma, please, just let me buy it for you." Snow pressed, which caught Emma off guard. She still wasn't used to Mary Margaret/Snow to be demanding and stubborn like herself. Emma ignored her and looked at the seller.
"How much?" The seller told her that it was 4 gold and she decided to try to haggle like her mother. "How about 2?" The seller thought about it and decided to ask for 3. Emma looked back at her mother for approval and Snow nodded her head with a smile. "Fine, 3 it is." Before Emma could give the seller 3 gold coins, Snow placed 3 gold coins of her own into the seller's hands. "What the hell?" Emma couldn't believe what she just happened because she was an adult and they pay for their own things. The seller handed the music box to Emma and the two women walked away.
"Sorry, I just-I really wanted to buy you something, anything." Snow tried to apologize even though she wasn't that sorry. It was her right as a parent to be able to do that.
Emma crossed her arms as they continued walking, "You don't have to do that anymore. I'm used to buying my own things." Snow brushed her hand through her hair just thinking.
"You are my daughter, Emma. I missed the time when I could have bought you things and I'm just trying to make up for lost time. I'm sorry if it upset you." Snow kept a strong front even though she felt as if she wanted to break down and cry about past mistakes.
Emma began to understand a bit and calmed down, "Thanks," She paused looking over at her mother, "for the music box." Snow glanced over with a small smile.
"You're welcome," was all Snow said as they shopped a bit more before heading back to the palace.