A surprise connection

A few people asked for a oneshot (4x05 spoiler warning!) of Emma showing Snow and Charming the box from 4x05 and telling them about the Snow Queen being her foster mom. Lesson learned. Don't read reviews the morning after a new episode is aired before watching the episode! I've done my best to make everyone happy as I've had a lot of different requests for the same moment so it was either this or write 4 or 5 versions of the one chapter lol :P

"Um guys, can I have a moment?" Emma asked nervously, hovering at the door to the living room.

"Of course you can Emma." Charming said, switching off the TV before he and Snow turned round to give Emma their full attention sensing she needed it. "What's up?"

"Nothing's up exactly." Emma said nervously, walking into the room and over to the coffee table where she crouched down and placed the box that had been under her arm on the table. "I just thought I should show you this." Charming and Snow didn't speak, both just looked curiously at the box wondering what was inside. "It's basically what's left of my childhood." She said quickly. Emma couldn't help but notice the spark of excitement in both their eyes. "It's nothing much." She added. "Just a few little things."

"Maybe." Snow said, reaching for her husband's hand. "But it's a lot more than we ever thought we'd see." Emma took the lid of the box in her shaking grasp and opened it. Snow and Charming leaned over eagerly to catch a glimpse of what was inside. Emma took things out one at a time and handed them to her parents. She nearly laughed at the way they handled each thing like it was the most precious object they'd ever held. She saw Charming's slight jealousy at the picture of her and Neal, and Snow's warm smile at seeing how happy her daughter was. Eventually, Emma came across an old video recorder. She picked it up herself an examined it.

"Have you got videos?" Snow asked, getting more excited than Emma thought humanly possible.

"Again, nothing big." Emma said honestly. "It's just something silly."

"Well come on then, let's check it out." Charming said, jumping up and taking the camera from Emma to attach it to their TV. "That's the one advantage of still living in the eighties basically. Old technology still comes in handy." Snow grinned, she couldn't agree more. Especially when it meant she was going to be able to not only see her little girl, but hear her. Charming whooped triumphantly as the screen flickered into life. Emma and a young girl of a similar age popped up onto the screen. They seemed to be just goofing around with the camera.

"Who's that Emma?" Charming asked. Snow said nothing. She was too busy watching her daughter in awe. That beautiful little girl was their daughter.

"Just an old friend." Emma said quietly. Charming could tell he wasn't going to get any more out of her so went back to watching in awe just like Snow. The screen changed again.

"Hey look what the new girl brought with her!" Someone shouted. Snow and Charming's eyes both narrowed. Someone had clearly taken Emma's camera off her. They saw Emma chasing after the boy who'd stolen her camera. Emma's eyebrows knitted together in concentration. She didn't remember any of this. Why didn't she remember?

"Give it back, Kevin." A voice of a stern woman called out. Snow was about to mentally thank the person for helping her daughter, until they all saw who it was. They all shared identical faces of shock. The Snow Queen. "The camera belongs to Emma." She continued, walking towards Emma and the boy. "We respect property in this house, Emma." She told the young Emma as she passed her. The film stopped with the Snow Queen smiling awkwardly at the camera. Suddenly a flash of memories went through Emma's mind, just like it did when she touched the book shortly after Henry being cursed.

"Emma, you knew her?" Snow asked, worried. Why hadn't Emma told them? Emma nodded, blinking rapidly to try and get her mind back on track again.

"Yes." She gasped, shaking her head slightly. "But I swear, I only remembered just there. I had no idea until then-"

"Ah, so you've finally remembered." A cool voice called from the doorway. Charming and Snow were up in a flash, standing protectively in front of Emma. The Snow Queen pulled the small mirror out of her pocked and tapped it, a wicked smile on her face. "It shows me everything I want to see now. And it was kind enough to let me know you'd remembered who I was. Who you are. My daughter…"

"No!" Snow and Charming called out together.

"Emma is not your daughter, she's ours!" Charming said, holding onto Emma's shoulder. The Snow Queen gave a humourless giggle.

"I was there when she needed a parent. Not either of you." She held her arms open wide. "Come on now, Emma. Time to come home with me." Emma shook her head. Terrified. She remembered her now. She was one of the weirder ones. She was so cold…but she had a way of making you do anything she asked.

"No." Emma said, frightened. "No. You're not my mother. Snow is. And Charming is my father. I'm staying here." Charming and Snow readied themselves for a fight. Snow knew Neal was upstairs asleep, but she was positive he was safe. The Snow Queen wanted Emma and no one else.

"Emma." The Snow Queen called in a lulling voice. "Come on now. Come home with mom." Snow turned to tell her not to listen, but it was too late. She could see by Emma's eyes that the Snow Queen had put her under some sort of enchantment.

"Mom." Emma said, looking towards her. "My mother has come back." With a pang Snow knew she didn't mean her. Right now in this state of mind Emma saw the Snow Queen as her mother. And no matter the circumstances her daughter thinking of anyone else as her mother hurt.

"Stop it!" Snow called out. "Leave her alone!" Emma's magic forced her parents to let go as she walked towards the Snow Queen.

"Emma no!" Charming called, trying to grab her again but Emma had created a force field around herself. She reached the Snow Queen, who smiled.

"Good girl. Are you ready to come home?" Emma nodded.

"Yes mother." She said, clearly in a trance.

"Good." The Snow Queen cooed. She reached out and took Emma's hand. That was her fatal mistake. The coldness of her hand was what broke Emma's enchantment. She remembered from when she was a teen in that home. That coldness. Always so cold no matter the weather. She stepped back suddenly.

"No!" Emma yelled. "I will never leave with you!" The Snow Queen snarled, seeing that her plan wasn't going to work today. With a blast of icy air, she vanished. Within milliseconds of her disappearing Snow and Charming were back beside Emma, checking her over.

"Are you alright?" Charming asked, worried. Emma nodded shakily. Snow led her over to the couch and sat her down.

"It's ok." Snow assured her gently. "She's never going to be able to take you. No matter how much she wants to. Your father and I won't let her." Charming nodded eagerly in agreement. The Queen of ice would burn to a crisp before she got her hands on their daughter again.