Cat

bluerose921asked for a oneshot of Emma finding out that Neal is hiding a cat in his room and he asks her to help him hide it from their parents. They get busted in the end.

"Please Emma?" The parents just made out their sons small whisper. They each had their ear pressed hard against the wooden bedroom door. Like all parents they knew there was one sure sign of trouble between their children- silence. When Emma had been up in her brother's room for over an hour without any sound they knew the pair were up to something.

"I don't know kid. I know you're attached now but what if he already has an owner? What if there's another little boy out there crying because he misses his kitty?"

"He's a stray, Emma, I just know he is. Fluffy is an ally cat like Thomas O'Malley from Aristicats.

"Oh kid don't name him." Emma groaned. "That'll just make things harder all round."

"But it won't if you don't tell mom and dad." Snow and Charming could practically see the cute look Emma would be getting from her baby brother. They knew she'd be putty in his hands combined with the cute cat. "I'll look after him, I promise. You'll be his favourite Auntie just like I'm Henry's favourite Uncle." Snow and Charming smiled at his cute emotional blackmail.

"He is so your son." Snow grumbled under her breath. Charming just chuckled lightly, he couldn't really deny it.

"Alright, alright. I won't tell mom and dad. But we take Fluffy to the vet tomorrow to check he doesn't belong to anyone and that he's healthy…"

"Ah-ha!" Snow said, as she and Charming burst into the room. Fluffy gave a great meow of dislike and sprang off of Neal's lap and under the bed. Both of their children give their parents near identical guilty looks.

"Caught." Charming said, giving them both disapproving looks. "And no, Neal, you cannot keep the cat. Emma was right before she caved- that cat might belong to someone else who might really miss their pet. It wouldn't be fair to be selfish and keep him from them, Remember I used to volunteer at the animal shelter- I know how easy it for pets to go missing. Besides, it wouldn't be fair to keep him cooped up in here all the time. Cats are made for the outdoors. He needs to be allowed out to explore. I know you like him buddy but you need to think about what's best for the kitty. He might miss his owner too." Charming gently told his son. Neal looked on the verge of tears, but Snow and Charming stood firm, this had to be done. Charming then turned to Emma.

"As for you- big softy- don't think you've got away with deciding to take part in this. You're meant to be the older, responsible one. Not the one who caves due to cute pouts. Try and remember that from time to time." Emma gave her dad her own version of the pout.

"I'm sorry dad. I just didn't want to disappoint my little bro. It won't happen again, I promise." She said sadly. Charming gave her a warm smile.

"It's alright princess, just see that it doesn't." Snow rolled her eyes. Like father like daughter.