Slowly

asked for a oneshot of Emma snapping at her mom after she tries to keeps trying to mother Emma. Snow cries and leaves the house. Emma feels terrible and Charming comforts Snow. Joshie2017 I've combined your request into this. I've set this as though Emma broke the curse at 12.

"Emma you don't have to go to school today. If you're still feeling sick you can stay off till next Monday…" Snow said. Emma rolled her eyes at the fussing.

"Mom I've been well enough to be back at school for two days. I've only stayed off because you made me. I'm bored stiff here, I want to go back. Now I'm going to be late…" Snow's hand suddenly shot out to Emma's forehead.

"I don't know Emma, you still feel pretty warm to me. I think you should stay home…"

"Mom would you stop being ridiculous!" Emma snapped. She was fed up of her mom babying her. She had barely let her move for the last week just because of a little stomach bug! "I managed without parents for twelve years, I don't need you to overdo it now! Sometimes I wish I was back in the system- at least I wouldn't be babied." Snow took in a sharp intake of breath and Emma instantly knew she'd gone too far.

"Ok Emma, if you want to go to school I guess that's ok. Now if you excuse me I'd best get going myself to get some groceries. Have a good day guys…" Snow quickly bustled out of the house, ignoring Emma calling after her. Tears were already pouring out of her eyes. Emma started crying herself.

"I didn't mean to!" She wailed to her dad. "It just came out!"

"Emma, it's alright." Charming soothed her, rubbing small circles on her back. "Go to school, I'll talk to your mom." Emma wiped the tears away on her sleeve and grabbed her bag.

"Ok." She whimpered, heading out of the door. Charming left shortly after her. He knew Snow wasn't going shopping, so headed straight to her shooting tree in the forest. Sure enough there she was with the bow and arrows she kept in a hollow in the trunk.

"Snow!" He called. She immediately dropped the bow and arrow and looked at her husband. He came right over to her and pulled her into his arms.

"Snow she's just as cut up about this as you are. She didn't mean what she said Snow- she's just struggling with the change now that the curse has broken. Maybe we need to step back a little. Give her a bit more independence. I know exactly where you are- I know you're still in a maternal state of having a newborn but Emma isn't a newborn- she's nearly a teenager. We need to treat her like the rest of her peers, Snow." Snow sighed into her husband's chest.

"I know." She reluctantly agreed. "But it's just so unfair. All I want to do is be a proper mother to my daughter- and I can't."

"Yes you can." Charming said, kissing the top of her head. "Just age-appropriately. I know it's hard Snow, but we have to do what's best for Emma."

Later that evening Snow found herself sitting on the couch with Emma's head resting against her shoulder. Snow was casually playing with Emma's golden waves. All was forgiven and forgotten. And Snow realised that just because she couldn't hold Emma in her arms and sing her lullabies didn't mean she couldn't be close to her daughter. She just had to be more subtle about it.