Retaining the hurt

snowfalls23 asked for a oneshot of Emma having braces when she was younger and still wears a retainer at night. Snowing find out and tease her a little. It hurts her feelings and they apologise.

Now I wish to defend myself again so if you quite rightly feel that this is boring and not what you want to read then no worries, skip straight to the chapter. But I don't see how a woman going to a club when she's married (or indeed in a relationship is inappropriate. Why shouldn't she or indeed he for the opposite case? Snow wasn't cheating. It was a girl's night out. No need to get huffy. She didn't flirt back at all. She gently but firmly rebuffed him. I apologise if you felt it didn't come across like that. Please do remember I am a human being with feelings. Try and phrase any criticism constructively. And somebody else said about Hook flirting with Snow again. It wasn't Hook, it was a total stranger just to clarify. Anyway, on with the story!

It was when Snow had gone in to her room to give Emma her laundry that Snow noticed. It was just sitting there in a little tub beside her bed. At first Snow had thought it was possibly Henry's so brought it downstairs to ask Emma in case he needed it while he was at Regina's. Flushing slightly pink, Emma took it off of her mother and said that it was her own. Charming was in the room with the pair. He and Snow shared a little look. They had never known Emma had a retainer.

"When did you have braces?" Snow asked, trying subtly to look at Emma's teeth.

"I got them when I got my first proper job after leaving prison. Most foster carers don't care about your dental health. I had them for about three years and I have to wear the retainer at nights." Emma explained. "It's no big deal."

"Aww, I bet you looked sweet with braces." Charming teased gently. "All innocent looking."

"I was in my twenties, I wasn't a child." Emma grumbled.

"Even still, do you have any pictures? Braces and glasses. You must have been so smart Emma." Snow said, teasing ever so slightly.

"That is a total stereotype. I was not a geek alright?" Emma snapped. Snow and Charming were taken aback. They hadn't meant to upset Emma. Emma closed her eyes and counted to ten. "I got teased enough for them from random people who thought they were funny. Yeah, I was a grown women with braces ha bloody ha. Can we just drop it?" Emma pleaded. Snow and Charming felt horrible. They had no idea. They each moved over and wrapped Emma in a group hug.

"Emma honey we didn't mean to upset you." Charming said gently. "Honest, braces or none we would always think you were beautiful and clever." Snow nodded in agreement. Emma shrugged, feeling awkward in the- in her opinion- intense contact.

"It's fine. Just, please, don't bring them up again. I only have to put up with it for another six months."

"And what beautiful teeth you'll have for live as a result." Snow encouraged her. Emma rolled her eyes, heading up the stairs to hide the retainer. Snow and Charming shared a smile.

"Do you think we can eventually persuade her to show us some pictures of her with braces?" Charming asked. Snow shrugged.

"Maybe. I still bet she looked adorable." Charming wrapped an arm around his wife and kissed her head.

"She always does."