Mama
A guest asked for a oneshot of Neal in the early stages of talking calls Emma mama because he can't pronounce Emma and it sounds like her name. Snow tries her best to correct it.
"Ok baby, say mama." Snow cooed to her one year old. Neal gave Snow a look back- a look which plainly said to Snow "but you're not mama. She's the blond one." Snow sighed in frustration but tried to do her best to hide her emotions from Neal. It wasn't really his fault. He didn't think Emma was his mother and Snow knew that, mama just happened to sound similar to Emma. But couldn't he have said Emmy or even just Em for her? She was his mama- she was their mama. What made it worse was Emma found it totally adorable. She secretly wished Emma discouraged him from calling her mama. Snow couldn't help but feel a little jealous, she'd been cheated out of both her children calling her mama. She knew she'd still get lots of milestones with Neal but it didn't stop it stinging. Neal gurgled and placed his hand on Snow's cheek as if to say "what's up? Don't cry, I'm the only crier here." Snow smiled half-heartedly and kissed his tiny little hand.
"I'm ok baby boy." She sighed. "I know you don't mean it, and I know Emma doesn't either. Do me a favour little man, don't let her know this upset me, would you? I wouldn't want your sissy to feel bad about this. I know it's not her fault. It's just one of those things." Snow couldn't help but have another little go at encouraging Neal to use another word as a substitute to mama when referring to Emma. Suddenly Neal looked up at Snow in great concentration.
"Moooom-ee." He said. Snow gasped. Had he just?...he had! He had, he had, he had! Neal giggled in delight as Snow showered his face with kisses.
"That's right! I'm your mommy!" She shouted proudly. Emma could keep being Neal's "mama". Snow was his mommy, and she always would be.