Words can hurt
Thekeeblerelf asked for a oneshot of Snow talking to Ella and Aurora about calling Snow a first time mom, especially in front of Emma. Explaining the repercussions and how it makes Emma feel. So I will change the way things went slightly to make the chapter flow a little better :)
"Oh it's more than that it's like a support group." Ella told Emma, bouncing Alex on her hip. "It's not easy being a first time mother." Emma couldn't help but feel the little stab inside her. She put on a smile for politeness.
"First time mother?" She asked her mom, slightly bitterly. Snow could have kicked Ella for saying that. She knew this situation was difficult enough for Emma as it was.
"Emma, of course I am not a first time mother." She said, looking Emma right in the eye no matter how hard Emma tried to avoid it.
"Well, you kind of are." Emma said, tilting her head to the side. Her tone too cheery for Snow to believe it to be true. "I mean you've never raised a baby before. You just put one through a magical wardrobe." Emma finished with a nervous little laugh.
"Emma." Snow said, hurt. It wasn't like she had a choice, and Emma knew that. She didn't want to give Emma up, and it was a decision that still tore at her every day. Just then, Emma's phone rang. Emma was grateful for the excuse to stop the awkward conversation.
"Hello?...The Snow Queen. She's still out there?...Alright, I'll be right there." Emma hung up with a sigh. "The Snow Queen is in the clock tower." She explained to her mom. "I'm going to go take care of this."
"Emma wait!" Snow tried to call her back, but Emma either couldn't hear her or was ignoring her. Snow suspected the latter. Snow put Neal into his pram and turned to her friends.
"Please be careful what you say around Emma." Snow asked them. "This situation is tricky for her. I know you didn't mean it, but please don't refer to me as a first time mother. I was Emma's mother long before I was Neal's."
"Snow I am so sorry." Ella said, clearly upset. "I really didn't mean it. I just wasn't thinking."
"I know, it's alright. It is a weird situation. Just please, both of you, be careful." Ella nodded fiercely and Aurora beside her. She may not have said anything, but she didn't think anything of what Ella had said. She too had forgotten Snow had an older child despite spending time with Snow and Emma in the Enchanted Forest.
"I promise, I'll be extra careful in the future." Ella said firmly. "I'll call Emma up later to apologise."
"Thank you." Snow said, smiling. "I'm sure she'll appreciate that. I'd best get going. I want to know what's going on at the clock tower. If that Snow Queen hurts one hair on my daughter's head she'll be dealing with me." Snow gave a last wave to her friends before moving off with Neal.
"Let's go shopping before we go home baby. We need to get your sister an extra special present so Emmy knows how much mommy loves her. Sound good?" Neal gave a contented gurgle in reply. Snow smiled "glad you agree."