Cold, wet and covered in mud
A guest asked for a oneshot of a preteen Emma coming home late and dirty because there's a storm outside. Snow forgives Emma and helps her wash her hair in the bath.
Emma's teeth were chattering as her numb fingers finally managed to unlock the front door. She was drenched from head to toe from the icy cold rain. The harsh wind knocking her down into a particularly muddy puddle hadn't helped. She was filthy, cold, and very, very late. Her phone had ran out of battery at lunch from watching one to many YouTube videos, so she hadn't called ahead to say that Nicole's mom wasn't able to give her a lift and ask her mom to pick her up instead (her dad was doing storm damage control at the station until late). Snow had heard the key in the lock and was waiting for Emma in the hallway.
"Emma, where exactly were you?! I expected you home half an hour ago. Why are you so wet and muddy? Didn't you get a lift from Mrs Cisneros?" Emma shook her head.
"Car broke down." Emma said, shivering. "My phone had no battery to call you. Had to walk."
"Oh Emma, why didn't you have Ms Donaldson at the office call me? You could have caught your death out there! Come on honey, a nice bath will warm you up." Snow quickly set about drawing Emma's bath, wanting to heat her up as quickly as possible. "That's it ready honey." She announced to Emma, who was sitting in the hall with a blanket draped around her looking glum.
"My hair." She whimpered. "It's full of mud. I'll never get it all out."
"I'll help." Snow promised. "Don't worry, I've managed to get all sorts out of your hair over the years, some mud is no contest." Snow promised her. Emma got herself settled in the lovely warm water, and Snow set about helping her get the muck out of her hair. "There, see, no problem. Just needed a bit of elbow grease. Next time, please have someone call the house Emma, don't walk home in that or some muddy hair might be the least of your worries."
"I will, I will." Emma mumbled, enjoying having the feeling return to her fingers. Snow smiled.
"I'll leave you to enjoy then, I'll have some hot cocoa with dinner ready for you."
"Thanks mom, you're the best." Emma commented. Snow smiled, she would remind her daughter of that next time they had an argument.