Unconditional
A guest asked for a oneshot of Emma testing limits and boundaries with Snow to see if she's legit.
Snow groaned. Emma had left her shoes just stranded in the middle of the hall. She knew how much Snow hated it when anyone did that. Normally, Snow would just move them to the side of the hall but Emma seemed to be trying to push Snow's buttons today. She was doing everything she could to upset her mother, it seemed. Snow grabbed Emma's boots and stomped through to the living room, where Emma was sitting with her feet up on the table, munching through a large bag of crisps. This just further irritated Snow- Emma knew Snow had put the family's dinner on.
"Emma." Snow said, fighting to keep herself from shouting.
"Yeah?" Emma responded, not taking her eyes off the TV. She knew she was being a total cow today, it wasn't an accident. She had to know that she was safe here. If Snow couldn't cope with her that was fine- but she had to know now before she got too attached. Snow came over and grabbed the remote from Emma, switching the TV off. "Hey!" Emma responded. "I was watching that!"
"And now you're listening to me." Snow said sternly. She held the boots up so Emma could see them. "I have asked you nicely so many times. Don't leave your boots strewn in the middle of the hall, someone could trip over them and hurt themselves. And you know dinner's on. Why are you eating crisps?" Snow asked, exasperated. This wasn't like Emma at all, what was going on? Emma just shrugged.
"Well people should really be watching where they are going. Not my fault if they can't keep an eye out."
"Yes, Emma. Yes it is. You don't live by yourself anymore, you live with your family. That means compromise, not always having things exactly the way you want them." Snow tried to explain calmly.
"Maybe I'd be better by myself." Emma said cuttingly. Snow took in a sharp breath, feeling hurt.
"Well I don't want you to go." Snow said quietly. "I've only just got you back in my life and I think we could use the time to bond. If you want to leave I know I don't have the right to stop you, but I'd like you to really think about it before you make such a big decision. Is it worth it? I know you'd still be close, but it wouldn't be the same and you know it. Would it all really be worth it just to leave your shoes in the middle of the hall?" Emma knew now. She knew she could push as much as she wanted. She could give Snow everything she had to try and make Snow allow her to push her away, and Snow would not budge. That's what Emma needed, someone who she could trust to not leave her. If they couldn't take her at her worst, then they didn't deserve her at her best. Emma nodded slowly, getting up and taking the boots.
"I'm sorry." She said, feeling guilty for being quite so bad. "I'll put these away properly."
"That's alright." Snow said warmly, the look on Emma's face gave her away. Snow had suspected Emma had been testing her. With a pang Snow thought she probably testing all her foster parents growing up. But she didn't have to test anyone ever again. She would warn Charming to expect trials of his own. But he would react in the exact same way as Snow, by showing her the same unconditional love they always would.