Strength
Just a little one I knocked up myself. A missing scene in 3x05 between Snow and Emma.
Things will still tense between Snow and Emma later that night. Emma was sure Snow was avoiding her. It made things slightly more awkward that the pair were the first on watch that night.
"I am sorry about earlier." Emma repeated, trying to break the awkward silence.
"I know you are." Snow said quietly. "I forgave you ages ago."
"Oh." Emma said, not being sure that she had. Emma looked at her mother's arm where she had held onto it earlier that day. "I didn't hurt your arm, did I?" she asked her. Snow looked at her, confused.
"My arm? When would you have hurt my arm?" Snow asked.
"When I…you know…held you back when Regina did her heart thing." Emma thought Snow gave a small smile. But she couldn't be sure in the dim flickering light of the fire.
"No, you didn't hurt me Emma." Snow said. Emma was sure she sounded slightly amused.
"What's so funny about it?" Emma asked, not understanding.
"Emma, I don't want to offend you or anything honey but you weren't really holding me back." Snow told her. Emma turned to face her completely, now really confused.
"But if I wasn't holding you back you would have flown for Regina?" Emma asked. Snow nodded.
"Yes, that's true I suppose. But it wasn't your strength that held me back." Snow told her. She could see from Emma's face that she still didn't understand. "Emma, I was a bandit for a long time. Regina's guards couldn't contain me. Did you really think I couldn't have broken away if I wanted to?" She asked. Emma went slightly pink.
"Um…" She said, not really sure how to answer.
"Sorry Emma, but if I had really needed to I could have had you off me in seconds. The reason I didn't move was because I didn't want to hurt you. You're my daughter. I think breaking your arm may have set our relationship back a bit. Which I'm sure would have put us into negatives…" Snow said. Emma went silent, looking at the fire. She felt her mom squeeze her shoulder. "I'm a lot stronger than you give me credit for, Emma. Remember, I'm not Mary Margaret anymore. I'm Snow White, and not the Disney version. I can look after myself." And you too if you'd let me. Snow thought without saying it out loud in fear of bringing up Emma's walls. Emma nodded.
"I understand." She said quietly.
"Sleep." Snow told her. "I've got this. You'll need your sleep if you're ever going to be strong enough to hold me back." Snow joked. Emma smiled.
"If you're sure then…" She said, settling back down against the fire. Snow smiled. She trusted her, it was a step.