The most painful theft

jsgh asked for a oneshot of Snow telling Charming about what Geppetto did.

Snow just couldn't sleep. She just kept tossing and turning. How was it fair? He had a choice to put Pinocchio through the wardrobe, Snow and Charming didn't really have a choice. She had to go to save everyone's lives- including her own. Geppetto even had a chance to have some of Pinocchio's childhood- Snow and Charming had nothing. And now he was getting a second chance. Where was their second chance with their child?

"Somebody's antsy tonight?" Charming said quietly beside Snow. She still jumped, not knowing he was awake.

"Sorry, am I disturbing you?" She whispered, turning to face him. Charming shook his head.

"No, I was awake anyway. There's been something off about you ever since Pinocchio got transformed back into a little boy. Snow, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Snow mumbled, looking down. Charming reached out tilted her chin so they were making eye contact again. There was something bothering her, he could read Snow like a book. He knew it was something serious.

"Please tell me." He asked gently. Snow was torn, she didn't want him to feel the same pain she now did. But at the same time, he had a right as Emma's father to know the truth of the situation. Snow took a deep breath, steadying herself.

"The wardrobe." She said, barely loud enough for Charming to hear. "It took two."

"What?" Charming breathed, confused. "No, Snow you're mistaken. It only took one, that's why Emma had to go alone." Snow shook her head, tears building up and some beginning to spill over.

"The Blue Fairy lied to us. Geppetto made her. Pinocchio took the other spot. That's how he grew up." Charming sat bold upright in the bed. Snow could see a variety of emotions flash through his eyes. Shock, confusion, anger, fear."

"Why?" He choked. Snow moved over and cupped her husband's face.

"For the same reason as us." She said, voice filled with emotion. "To do what was right for his child. Can we honestly say we wouldn't have done the same thing for Emma?"

"You could have gone with her." He responded. "She didn't have to be alone. He stole that from us..."

"We can't change it now." Snow reminded him. "I was furious as well. I punched him the face... But like I said, we can't say we would have done any differently. He was just a parent trying to protect his child..."

"And in doing so he caused ours unimaginable suffering." Charming said bitterly. Snow nodded sympathetically.

"As well as his own. Pinocchio was raised in the system too, he would have had his fair share of abuse. He placed too strong a burden on young shoulders. How was a seven year old meant to look after Emma?" Charming gritted his teeth together, trying to stop himself from running out in the middle of the night and beating the old man to a bloody pulp. He had stolen their daughter's chance of a loving childhood. The sensible part of him understood why, but he was too emotional to register that just now. Snow took his face in her hands again.

"I know exactly how you're feeling. But nothing good will come from letting our anger get the better of us. We need to accept what has happened and move on together." Charming placed his hands over Snow and pulled them away from his face, keeping her hands in his. A silent conversation spoken between them of shared pain and support.