The comfort of our children

piper maru duchovny asked for a oneshot of Snow being sick or injured and Emma having to handle it.

Shievi: I'll have a think but I'm struggling to think of a way to write a sequel for "Brain tricks". Sorry about that!

Emma stood cautiously at the doorway to her parents' bedroom. Her dad was in the kitchen fixing up some lunch for her mom to take her pills with. He'd asked Emma to go and ask her what she wanted to drink, but Emma was struggling to go in. It was hard seeing her like this. She was meant to be the strong one. Snow's eyes opened and she squinted at the doorway sleepily until Emma came into vision.

"Emma?" She asked groggily. Emma shuffled into the room nervously.

"Sorry for waking you." She said quietly. "Dad wanted to know what drink you want with your lunch." Snow slowly pushed herself up until she was sitting in the bed.

"I've still got water here thanks." She said, motioning to the glass beside her bed. Emma scooted over.

"Wait mom, should you be getting up? Do you want me to get dad to help?..."

"I'm not getting up." Snow said gently. Even sick she managed to be so motherly. She patted the space beside her. "Come here." Emma's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.

"I know you've been worried about me, and I don't want you to worry about me, I'm going to be fine. What will make me feel better is a hug from my daughter." Snow really did think a hug from Emma would make her feel better, but she was offering it just as much for Emma's benefit.

"Oh." Emma said awkwardly. Truth be told she wanted nothing more that to curl up by Snow's side and not leave until she was sure her mom was going to be ok, but she couldn't let her mom know that. Neal had been practically inseparable from their mother, their parents had persuaded him to go for a sleepover with Philip Junior to have a break and just be a little boy. But comfort from her son didn't mean Snow didn't miss her daughter's company. She just wanted her children close just now and she knew Emma had been keeping her distance. Snow could see right through Emma's excuses. She knew Emma was scared. Snow patted the space beside her again, giving Emma an encouraging smile. Emma didn't like how pale her mother was- and seeing as her mother was known for her fair skin that was saying something. But Emma couldn't hold back any longer. She didn't want to. She slowly made her way over and crawled onto the bed beside her mom. Snow took the chance and wrapped her arms around Emma, pulling her close, right to her side.

"I'm here." Snow murmured into Emma's hair. "It's ok."

"You're the sick one, remember?" Emma said sarcastically. Snow smiled.

"I know I am, but we're both going to be ok." Emma didn't respond, not sure what to say. Snow just held Emma close. She always felt better when she and Neal were close by. Even better when her Charming was there too. As if hearing Snow's thoughts, there was a knock at the door. Snow and Emma looked up to see Charming standing with a tray of soup with some tablets for Snow to take. He smiled at the sight of Emma curled up, her head resting against Snow's shoulder.

"We both ok?" He asked. Snow nodded as Charming set the tray on her lap.

"Yeah." She said, smiling at him as she ran a hand through Emma's hair. "We'll be just fine."