Growing up
SassieSara Hail asked for a oneshot of Snow having to explain the birds and the bees to Emma.
Snow had been sitting in her study doing paperwork when Johanna had come flying into the room.
"Snow, you'll have to come through to Emma's room." Johanna told her quickly. "She's jammed the door of her washing room and is refusing to come out unless it's you. She sounds hysterical." That was enough for Snow to immediately stop what she was writing and follow Johanna back through to Emma's room.
"Emma?" Snow said, knocking on the door. "Emma baby, its mom. Can you let me in? I'm worried about you. Johanna said you sounded very distressed." As soon as she heard her mother's voice Emma quickly moved the broom from the door and let her mom in. Snow could straight away see that Emma had been crying.
"Mom I'm scared." Emma whimpered. "I went to use the chamber pot and when I did there was blood. I know that bleeding from your insides is really bad…mom why are you smiling I'm scared!" Emma wailed. Of course Snow knew what was happening and that Emma had no reason to be afraid. Snow popped her head back around the door.
"She's alright, thank you Johanna. That will be all for just now." The servant bowed and left to continue her duties elsewhere in the castle. Snow turned her attention back to her daughter. "I know you're scared and you won't stop being scared until I explain what's happening to you. But to do that we need to get a few things sorted first so let's head through to my room." Snow took her daughter by the hand and led her through to her and Charming's room. She first led Emma into their own wash room and pulled out the drawer containing the strips of cloth she used whilst on her own monthly cycle. She handed one to Emma.
"Wrap that around your undergarments. It will stop the blood staining your clothes. Don't worry, you're not injured at all. I'll explain when you're ready." Snow promised Emma before leaving her alone in the wash room and sitting on the bed, waiting for her. Emma didn't take very long in the bathroom, she was clearly anxious and just wanted her mom to explain things. Snow held her arms out and the eleven year old snuggled into her side.
"Ok honey, you don't need to panic. This is all part of your body changing as you become a woman." Snow began to explain. "You see, now that you're getting a little older your body is beginning to get ready to carry a baby. You're bleeding when you pass urine because the area in your tummy where a baby would grow had gotten all cushioned in preparation for a little egg that's inside of you growing into a baby there. Since there's no baby the blood needs flushed out and it comes out of your vagina."
"But I don't understand." Emma whimpered. "I don't want to have a baby. Why are you saying I'm ready?" Snow gently stroked Emma's cheek.
"No honey, I said that your body is beginning to get ready. You're right, you're nowhere near ready to have a baby. But it's ok, you're not going to get pregnant just because you're starting to menstruate. Getting pregnant requires a boy and a girl." Emma's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"What do boys have to do with it?" Snow bit her lip to stop herself from laughing at how disgusted Emma sounded.
"Well, in order to get pregnant the little egg that's inside of you needs to be joined by something called a sperm from a boy's penis. When a man and a woman love each other very much they have something called sexual intercourse- or making love. The boy sticks his penis inside the girl's vagina and it's a nice feeling that helps him release the sperm which travels up to the egg and that's how babies are made."
"Oh." Emma said, feeling a little sick. "I don't think I want to have any babies." Snow laughed.
"Say that when you're older and in love." Snow took Emma's face in her hands. "My little girl…not so little anymore are you?" Emma grinned and shook her head. Snow bent down and kissed her cheek.
"Well, we'll get you a nice bath drawn. That'll help your tummy be less sore. Don't worry, you get used to the cramps…"
"Get used to them? How long does this last?"
"Around five days every month. But since you're just starting you're likely to miss a few months while your body gets into a schedule."
"This happens every month? Aww man!" Emma complained. Snow chuckled and ruffled Emma's hair. One day she'd realise that those period pains were worth it when she got to hold her own little miracle.