Getting home to Henry
One of mine today. Here's a laugh for you, I wrote this 3 years ago before the 2nd episode of season 2, so I would have been 17. So here's a little look into 17 year old me's mind lol.
RoseRed: Sorry, I've already covered learning specific difficulties, and Asperger's/autism is a particularly tricky one to write if you don't have it :/
Snow started to wake up groggily. She felt the cold stone beneath her with the hay brushing against her skin. She opened her eyes slowly. Eventually, the room stopped spinning and there was only one of everything. What she saw made her heart speed up like a rocket. Emma was standing apprehensively. She was staring at a woman with long brown curls and a too perfect plump face. A woman she hadn't seen since she was a little girl. Cora.
Seeing Emma so obviously apprehensive made all Emma's apprehension seep into her own body. Snow's pain from the back of her head and neck from where Mulan hit her disappearing, Emma's fear concerned her more. She was surprised by how fast the maternal instinct had sunk in. Snow leapt to her feet between Emma and Cora. She took a handful of Emma's shirt with both her hands on both her shoulders and forced Emma behind her, protecting her from the evil woman.
"Get back." Snow hissed at Cora, itching to use one of her high kicks to knock her out. But what good would that do? There was nowhere to run with Emma. They'd need to sit and wait on her wrath when she woke up. Snow concentrated on keeping Emma as far away as possible from the witch whilst keeping her safe in her arms.
Cora gave Snow a condescending smile and took a step towards Snow, totally unconcerned with her warning. Snow automatically stepped back, forcing Emma back too. Cora tilted her head, amused by Snow's bear-like mothering.
"Your daughter and I were just about to talk, dear- nothing else." Cora said overly sweetly.
"You stay the Hell away from my daughter!" Snow shouted. Emma was quite taken aback. She'd never had someone around to look out for her or protect her. She liked it, but why was her mom so afraid of this stranger? Cora gave a high pitched giggle.
"I intend her no harm dear-"
"Did you intend Regina harm?" There was a tense silence. Snow's hands didn't leave Emma and her startling green eyes didn't leave Cora. "You've messed up your own daughter's life and hurt her beyond repair. I'll be damned if you'll do the same to mine." Emma's eyes widened. This was Regina's mom? She now understood her mom's fear. Her own body shifted and she stiffened, ready for a fight. Cora's lips tightened into a thin line. Any vague friendliness disappeared.
"I tried to do my best for Regina. It's not my fault she was ungrateful. You of all people should know what we mothers do to give our daughters a better chance in life. At least I didn't send mine away- alone in another world. Anything could have happened to her." Snow was restraining herself from attacking Cora.
"I done what was best for my baby to protect her from being cursed, being cursed by your sociopath of a daughter. Who is so evil and damaged because of you. So Cora, when it comes down to it, it's because of you I have missed watching my daughter grow up. And you have no idea how hard it is restraining me from strangling you with my bare hands." Snow smiled. "In fact, the only reason I'm not is that my hands are busy keeping her away from you. This would be the same daughter who still loves me, by the way." Snow added, just for the sting. If Cora's lips got any thinner they'd disappear.
"I just want to talk with her." She hissed. Emma could see no danger from Regina's mother. She was trapped the same as they were. Emma didn't doubt for a moment that her mom had reason to suspect Cora was dangerous and harmful, but down here, she couldn't hurt them.
"It's ok," Emma said gently, putting her hand over Snow's. "She can talk with me." Snow was still wary. She'd only just gotten Emma back; she didn't want to lose her again. She looked Emma eye to eye and saw how strong her daughter was. Very slowly, Snow's hands relaxed from Emma's shirt and allowed Emma to step forward so they were side by side. Cora's devious smile returned.
"Thank you dear. You see it must have taken an incredibly strong person to break a curse of that level. Someone with a lot of power up here," Cora went to tap Emma on the forehead, but Snow swiftly reached out and caught Cora's hand before it went anywhere near Emma.
"That's close enough; you don't touch her." Snow snarled. She hadn't forgotten the lessons she'd learned during her time as an outcast. She was quick to act for herself and those she loved against threat. For all she knew, one touch was enough for Cora to kill Emma. Magic worked in wicked ways when in the wrong hands. Cora snatched her hand back giving Snow a look of disgust.
"I shall cause your daughter no harm. Certainly less than you have done her already by sending her to live alone in another world." Cora snapped. Snow took in a sharp intake of breath, was she just going to keep bringing that up?
"Hey, back off my mom if you want anything from me." Emma retorted angrily. It still felt weird to her having a proper mom in her life. But it certainly gave Snow a warm glow to really see that Emma seemed happy to accept Snow done what she thought best for her child. Cora seemed to be taking a couple of seconds to calm down. The smug look she was getting from Snow didn't help her. There would certainly be no warm welcome or defence from Regina if she ever saw her again.
"Fine, let's skip any pleasantries, shall we?" Cora said, making no attempt to hide her distain for Snow White or her daughter. "Quite simply, I need your help, Miss Swan." Snow raised her eyebrow quizzically. Why would a woman with so much power need help? It surely wouldn't be something "nice and simple". Emma was thinking along the same lines. This wasn't something to be taken on lightly. Her mother (it was still weird thinking like that, she was still just her friend Mary Margaret.) wouldn't be afraid of Cora for no reason. She was one badass princess if Henry's book was anything to go by.
"What do you want?" Emma sighed. Cora stood a little straighter, happier now she seemed to be getting what she wanted. She always got what she wanted one way or another.
"I need your help getting back to Regina. Everyone here knows that she has something to do with the curse, and they all think I do too. That's why I'm stuck down here. I need to get to Regina to prove I have nothing to do with this curse."
"Regina's not exactly going to be happy to see you. She'll know you came from the Enchanted Forest and she already knows we're here. She's kind of the reason we're here. If we help you, we put not just us, but the rest of our family in danger." Snow interjected. She wanted to make sure Emma wasn't taken in by Cora's sweet charm like she was years ago.
"I wasn't asking for your help, I was asking your daughter." Cora snapped, without even looking at Snow.
"I warned you lady," Emma said with authority. "You back off my mom. Besides, she's right. I just got my family. I'm not in a position to tear it into shreds again. Sorry, but when we get out, we find a way back alone." Emma walked to the other side of the dark pit, and sat in a pile of straw. She had to think how she and her mother were getting out without Cora now hot on their heels. Regina didn't need any more reason to hate them. Snow didn't move from where she stood. She was still staring at Cora, watching in case she took Emma's decision badly. Cora looked up at Snow, her eyes slanted, the condescending smile back on her face.
"For all you despise me dear, we have a lot in common-"
"I have nothing in common with-"
"Let me finish." Cora said, like she was talking to a disrespectful child. "We both did our best for our only daughter, at great personal loss. We both had what we done flung back in our faces. But most importantly, we both share a grandson." Snow's eyes widened and Emma looked up horrified from where she sat, both their hearts thudding again.
"How do you know about my son?" Emma croaked, getting shakily to her feet to stand beside her mother. Cora just gave a little chuckle and tapped her nose. "Tell me!" Emma demanded.
"Now now dear, a princess should have manners. No need to shout. But I shall not be telling you how exactly I know about young Henry. She always did over-idolise her father… Anyway, if I know he's there; imagine what I can arrange to happen to him." Emma went to fly for Cora, but Snow's quick hands caught her and held her back.
"No, Emma, you've no idea what she's capable of! Don't do something you'll regret!"
"I don't care! Nobody threatens my son! Nobody!" Emma was flailing her legs about, trying to get free to lay about Cora.
Snow was trying to calm her down, she wanted to attack Cora after that remark as well, but she knew how powerful Cora was- even if she looked like a harmless old lady. She ran a hand through Emma's long dark blonde waves.
"It's alright sweetie," Snow whispered in her ear so Cora couldn't hear. "She's bluffing. She might be able to see into the other world, but she can't communicate with it. Trust me." Emma's breathing slowly returned to normal, but she continued to shoot daggers through her eyes to an amused looking Cora.
"I don't know how you know about my son, but listen to my warning. I've taken on your daughter many times, and won. I've killed a bloody dragon and I've broken a twenty eight yearlong curse. Try and hurt my son, and I'll add you to my list, got it?" Emma said through gritted teeth.
"And she'll have me and her father's full support. Also Cora, add hurting Emma to that warning. Your family has hurt mine enough. Stay well away. Snow was back in front of Emma, shielding her from any backlash. But Cora just laughed.
"Foolish girls, you're both stuck here same as me. There's no point threatening me, I have just as much time as you do to sit and work out my next move. Just watch your back ladies, because when you least expect it- I'll be there, and you'll be right to be afraid. But, I admit here I am as powerless as the pair of you. So for now, we wait."
Snow guided Emma back to the pile of straw on the other side of the cell, still staring at Cora. They both sat down, wanting to work out their next move. Emma had gone pale, she didn't expect them to know about, let alone threaten Henry. Snow reached out and patted Emma's arm.
"Hey," She whispered, not wanting Cora to hear anything they were saying. Emma, it's alright. I made a promise to you nearly twenty nine years ago. From the minute I knew you were inside me, I promised I would keep you safe. I know I haven't made that obvious, but I've tried my best. And now I can start doing it properly. Neither that woman, or her daughter, or anyone, will ever hurt you, or my grandson again." Emma just gave her a disbelieving look. Snow was obviously upset by it. "Don't be like that Emma. You can trust me, and your dad. You're our number one priority." But Emma wasn't going to believe that so quickly. In her eyes Snow still had a long way to go to prove herself as her mother. Emma didn't particularly care about their relationship right now; she only cared about getting home to Henry.