Mom's real now
Effervescent Dreamer wanted a oneshot of Emma telling Snow about a game she played as a child called "make up mom".
Sometimes it was hard for Emma to watch her mom with Neal. She couldn't help but feel a little jealous. In fairness, why shouldn't she be jealous? She surely deserved their mother's love as a child too? She often watched her mom as she cared for Neal, it brought her back to her own childhood. One day, she was so lost in her thoughts watching Snow she didn't notice Snow could see her looking.
"Emma?" Snow asked, snapping Emma back to reality.
"Hmm?" Emma asked, still waking up from her daydream slightly.
"You ok? You seemed awful concentrated." Snow pointed out. Emma's face went a delicate shade of pink, which again didn't go unnoticed by Snow.
"Oh, yeah." Emma spluttered. "Sorry, I'll just go see what Henry's up to…" Emma said, getting up.
"Talk to me." Snow called to her, before Emma left the room. Emma froze on the spot before slowly turning round and facing her mother. "There's something going on in that head of yours." Snow prompted. "What is it?" Emma shrugged before slowly coming back and sitting on the couch.
"It's nothing, really." She muttered. "I'm just being silly." Snow came over and sat beside her, Neal still cradled in her arms.
"It's not silly if something's bothering you." Snow said gently. "I'm your mom, you can talk to me, can't you?" Emma sighed, quietly thinking that was a dirty trick from her mother to get her talking, even if it was working.
"It's just…when I see you with Neal, it reminds me of a game I used to play when I was a little girl." Emma began. Snow waited quietly for Emma to continue. "I called it 'make up mom'. I mainly played it at nights when I felt alone or scared in the dark, but sometimes during the day too. I'd make up a mom that loved me. That cared that I was frightened and wanted to make it better. That wanted to stop the tears by hugs and not by yelling at me to be quiet. It's just seeing you with Neal…it's weird. It's like my game come to life in a way I suppose. But not- not…"
"Not with you?" Snow suggested softly. Emma looked down; unable to say yes, but Snow could tell it's what she was thinking. Snow shifted Neal into one arm and gently made Emma look at her with her free hand.
"No matter how old you are, Emma. You are my daughter. If you need me, I will always be there. If you call me at two in the morning and need me I will be there. Do you understand?" Snow asked. Emma nodded, and Snow leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Good." She said. "Just keep getting used to it."