Nerves
brittany2000 asked for a oneshot of Snow helping Neal after something sad happens. Just to be clear to those in the states when I say football it's soccer I'm referring to- but I refuse to call it that I'm afraid!
Neal had never felt so disappointed. He'd messed up the whole team's chances. This was the first year the Storybrooke Elementary football team got to compete with other teams in Boston (Rumple had helped with some powerful magic cloaking them as another school in Boston). He had been so excited he'd been picked for the team, and now it was all his fault they'd lost. He was their goalkeeper. He was just so nervous…and he let in three goals to the other team. The other kids were either laughing at him or really mad. As soon as they'd gotten home he'd stormed up to his room and flung himself down on the bed. He never wanted to go back to school. The other kids would pick on him, and he'd never be allowed back on the football team again. Neal heard someone knock on the door.
"Go away." The eight year old mumbled into his pillow. Clearly choosing to ignore Neal, Snow opened the door and came in anyway. "I said go away." Neal sniffed, quickly wiping his eyes.
"I heard you." Snow said gently as she crossed the room and sat at the edge of Neal's bed. "But I thought you might want this." Snow put the mug of hot chocolate and the chocolate chip cookie on Neal's bedside table. Neal shook his head. He didn't feel he deserved any treats. Snow knew that's why he was refusing them.
"Don't beat yourself up." She said gently, running her hand through Neal's hair. "Everyone gets nervous. Your coach spoke to us. He understands, he thinks you'll really improve once you get experience in a few games." Snow tried to encourage him.
"But all the kids will make fun of me when I go to school. I want to be home schooled."
"No they want buddy. The strikers missed those goals, you're not thinking of making fun of them, are you?" Neal shook his head. "No, exactly. Because you know they just made a mistake. Just like the other kids know you just made a mistake. Nobody's going to make fun of you. None of them had the guts to get on that pitch and face the other team, did they? No. Come here." Snow gently got Neal sitting up and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "You're going to be ok little man." She kissed the top of his head, taking one arm away and picking up the cookie she held it out to him. Smiling slightly, Neal took the cookie. "That's my boy. And remember, no matter what happens- you'll always be my little superstar."