The C word
GibbsGirl10 asked for a oneshot of Emma finding out she has cancer. So trigger warning of discussions of cancer.
Emma felt like someone had just aimed a rocket right at her stomach. She felt like a building that was collapsing- ready to turn into a pile of dust.
"I am truly sorry, Emma." Whale said sympathetically. "We have various services available to you- including Jiminy of course. Remember, this is curable. We can fight this cancer. You're tough, we've all seen that here. You can win this battle."
"Can I?" Emma croaked. She didn't feel very tough right now.
"Yes, you can." Her dad said from one side of her, squeezing her hand tightly. Truth be told her was terrified right now but he wouldn't dare let Emma see that. "We know it's not going to be easy, but we'll be with you every step of the way and we will do everything that we can to make you well again."
"Your father's right." Snow said from Emma's other side. You're going to make it through this Em- and you will never be alone." Emma nodded gravely, giving her attention back to Whale.
"So what now? Chemotherapy? Radiotherapy?"
"Yes, I would recommend both as a course of action."
"So am I going to lose my hair?" Emma croaked. In the grand scheme of things hair was nothing to be concerned with, but the small things can seem so much bigger whilst a person is already distressed. Whale's grimace gave his answer before he spoke.
"That is a possibility, yes." He told Emma. "But you won't have a tumour inside of your body."
"Emma if you lose your hair your father and I will shave ours off as well." Snow promised her daughter. "We mean it when we say you won't be alone in this." Emma didn't respond- she didn't know how. All she knew was she was at the beginning of a very long, terrifying journey, and she was grateful that she wasn't alone.