Just one bite
allywolf5 asked for a oneshot of Emma in a suspenseful tragic situation and her parents rescue her. An AU oneshot.
Emma sniffled as she trudged through the trees. This wasn't fun anymore. She had only meant to hide for a couple of minutes. To find a tree big enough that she could hide behind without mommy and daddy finding her, and just far enough away that they wouldn't be able to hear her giggle if she got overexcited. But she went too far. She got lost and couldn't find her way back to her parents. She had been trying for hours. It was dark now, and there had been drizzle on and off. Her clothes were damp and she was starting to shiver. She just wanted to go home and cuddle up with mommy and daddy in front of the fire while they told her stories. What if she never got home? That's when she saw the house in front of her. A little cottage situated in the middle of the woods. It looked like a nice person's home. Maybe they would help her get home. Everyone in the kingdom recognised Emma, they would know who she was and where she lived. She moved quickly to the cottage and knocked on the door.
"Hello?" She asked nervously. "Is somebody in? I need some help." Emma waited for a reply, but nobody answered. When she knocked on the door again it fell open. Emma cautiously peeked inside. Her parents had told her to not to go anywhere she didn't know- not to talk to strangers. But surely they wouldn't mind since Emma was this lost? They'd be thanking this stranger for bringing her home…if the person was home. Emma entered the house and gasped at the wonder of the home. The whole room was filled with delicious treats. Chocolate and sweets of all kinds. Lemon and lime lollipops, gingerbread, blueberry and cherry pies, raspberry and strawberry tarts the list was endless. Emma knew she wasn't meant to take things from people without asking…but she was just so hungry. Surely one little gingerbread man wouldn't hurt? When the person came back she would make sure she knew and her mommy and daddy could replace it. She picked up the sweet treat and took off his head with one bite.
"Hello there?" Emma heard someone say from another room. "I think there's someone in my home."
"I'm in here!" Emma replied, her voice muffled by crumbs. "Please, I just want to go home. My parents can replace the gingerbread man I took. I was just so hungry." A woman came into the room with Emma. Her blond hair was wild and all over the place. She wasn't looking at anything in particular, her eyes were glazed over. Emma noted that she seemed to be manoeuvring through the room with her nose rather than her eyes. She came right over to Emma, and Emma wasn't so sure this person was as sweet as the house.
"Hello there little girl." The blind witch said. "My name is Ms Ginger. Did you enjoy your snack?"
"Um yeah." Emma said nervously. "Do you know how I can get home to the palace? I got lost in the woods."
"Oh, I'm speaking to the princess then?" Ms Ginger responded.
"Uh huh." Emma told her, pressing herself back against the wall, wanting to leave but sensing the woman wasn't going to let her.
"I see, well I can't let the princess leave with only a gingerbread man now can I? Come, I'll take you through to the kitchen. You can stay for dinner…"
"No thank you." Emma squeaked. "I would rather go home."
"Oh I don't think that's going to happen." She said dangerously. She reached out and grabbed Emma's wrist tightly. "You're not going anywhere…" The witch yelped and let go of Emma's hand as an arrow came flying and lodged itself in her arm.
"Back. Away. From my. Daughter!" Snow snarled. Charming swooped in quickly and picked Emma up before Snow and Charming fled with her while the witch howled in pain and defeat. They daren't stop running until they were sure they witch wasn't following them. Charming put a crying Emma down and both her parents examined her.
"Are you ok?" Charming panted. Emma nodded.
"She was scary!" She wailed. "I- I just got lost playing hide and seek. I found her house…I had one gingerbread man and…and…"
"Shh." Snow soothed her daughter, taking her into her own arms. "You're safe now." Emma nodded against her mom's shoulder, clinging to her tightly. She never wanted to play hide and seek again.