Xylophone upgrade

Codi asked for a oneshot of Emma and Snow out at a shopping day in the mall. Emma wanders away and Snow wonders where she went. She hears a piano being played. Emma went into a music shop and just began to play it. Snow is impressed and makes a big deal embarrassing Emma. Codi I love that song :).

"Why couldn't we just get all these things at a supermarket like a normal family?" Emma groaned, trudging behind her mother carrying a full shopping bag in each hand.

"Because it's nice to support small businesses that's why." Snow gave her the same response she'd given each time Emma asked the question. Rather than do their shopping in the local supermarket Snow had decided that they should try getting bits and bobs from different stalls at the indoor market. "We don't have many things to get now. Just some pork from Lin Brewer's butcher stall and then the fresh fruit and veg from Blair Lacona the greengrocer's stall." Snow said, ticking off a couple of things they'd just purchased from her list. Emma sighed, but didn't have the energy left to complain.

As Snow was gently bartering with Lin over the price of a joint of pork Emma spotted something she had never noticed in town before having never been to this area (she preferred the Walmart's of this world). Storybrooke had a small music shop. Emma spied something through the window that caught her eye. She carefully placed her bags down beside her mother and wandered over to have a closer inspection.

When Snow was happy with the price, she purchased the meat and turned round to tell Emma to begin heading to the greengrocer's stall, but found that Emma wasn't there. Snow began to look around and spied her sitting at what looked like either a keyboard or piano in the music store. Snow hadn't known Emma could play the piano. She picked up her own bags as well as Emma's and headed over to listen in. As soon as she opened the door she was greeted by the sweet sound of a familiar tune. Emma was playing so beautifully, why had she not mentioned this talent before? Snow crept a little closer, grateful it didn't seem to put Emma off. Eventually though, Snow had to join in.

"Someone holds me safe and warm,

Horses prance through a silver storm.

Figures dancing gracefully,

Across my memory." Emma stopped and turned to face her mom, her face rather pink. Snow beamed at her daughter. "Why did you never mention you could play? That was simply beautiful!" Emma shrugged her shoulders.

"It wasn't that good." She grumbled. "I was never great and because I haven't played in years that was pretty rusty. That's one of the few tunes for piano I remember."

"Wait. You say that like you know tunes for other instruments. You can play other instruments?" Snow asked. Emma nodded sheepishly and Snow sat down on the stool beside Emma. "Tell all." She asked excitedly. Emma smiled at her mom.

"I stayed with this family for a while: the Schreiber's." Emma began. "Both the mom and dad, Marsha and Terrell, were music teachers. They had two daughters of their own, Ava and Monica. They had taught their biological kids their skills and they shared some stuff with me too. Marsha was the one who taught me the piano but she also played the saxophone, violin, oboe and cello. Terrell played the drums, guitar, bass, trumpet, trombone and French horn. It was a bit of an upgrade for a foster kid who maybe got a shot on a dusty old glockenspiel or xylophone at school once in a while. I liked piano the most, think that's why more of it stuck. I only stayed with them for a few months. They were really lovely people but turned out they were involved with some sort of sect, you know, a bit Pennsatucky like but with a little more Crazy Eyes crazy, but not the good Uzo Aduba kind. It was a shame, they were so nice, but my social worker whisked me out of there as soon as they found out." Emma explained. "Sorry I abandoned you with all the shopping."

"Don't be, otherwise I might never have known something so special about you." Snow said, with that smile that held so much love Emma wasn't able to look directly at her.

"It's not that special. Tons of people can play piano." Emma murmured. Snow reached out and stroked Emma's cheek.

"Everything about you is special to me." She said simply. Emma didn't respond, she didn't know how. She still wasn't quite used to so much love.