A/N: Here is a chapter to help you with your Monday! I'm working on the next chapter right now, but it won't be out till at least Friday! Hope you like this one! Thanks for the reviews, favorites, and follows! Enjoy!
Emma and Ella
Chapter 23: Testing Mom and Dad
Ella thought about what she said, but before she could say anything Snow and David came over with their plates and drinks.
Emma winked at Ella when neither parent was looking. "Why does Granny have to watch us?" Emma whined after a moment.
"You know why. You just snuck out Emma." David said as he continued to put the food out.
Emma frowned, she didn't want her Dad to answer her. She was testing her mom not him.
Ella bit her lip and stood up from her chair to limp away from the table.
"Young lady, sit back down." Snow scolded as she saw Ella walking on her leg.
"I was just…" Ella started.
"No, young lady, no excuses." Snow cut her off.
Ella sat back down with a frown, that didn't go as planned.
"I just don't understand why we need a babysitter? And an apology letter. Why do we have to write that?" Emma complained some more.
David looked at her with a frustrated yet confused look. "Emma, stop complaining." He said firmly.
Emma frowned again and then looked over at Ella. This wasn't working they would have to separate their parents, but they could keep trying.
Emma nodded at Ella to try and walk again.
Ella nodded and when both of their parents were getting things from the kitchen, Ella stood up and made her way to the bathroom to act like she was going to wash her hands.
"Ella Louise!" Snow yelled as she saw her halfway to the bathroom.
"Mom…" Ella whined at getting middle named in front of Emma and David.
"What do you think you are doing? Your father talked to you and I just talked to you, yet you are walking again." Snow scolded her as she came over to her.
"I was just going to wash my hands, mom." Ella replied in her most innocent voice.
David came over and picked her up. "You know all you have to do is ask." David said softly before taking her to the bathroom downstairs to wash her hands before carrying her back to the table. "Now no more getting up." David said softly.
Ella nodded and he backed off. She knew she just got saved from her mother's wrath by her father. She didn't mind that at all.
"We thought that if you two are good with Granny that we could have a family movie night when we get back." David started as they began to eat their lunch.
"But I thought that we were grounded." Emma asked with a confused look.
"You are, but we said we would make exceptions for family time." Snow said with a soft smile.
"What are we going to watch?" Ella asked in excitement.
"That is a surprise." David answered with a smile as he tapped her nose.
Ella smiled shyly.
"Can we get pizza too?" Emma asked with a grin.
"We'll see." Snow answered with a smile.
"We won't stay up too late though since Ella has her surgery tomorrow morning." David told the girls.
Ella looked down at her plate as she remembered her surgery was tomorrow morning. She hadn't really been thinking about it because it made her feel nervous.
"Hey." David said softly as he put a finger on her chin to raise her head to look at him. "Everything is going to be fine."
Ella blinked back tears and nodded.
David smiled at her before removing his finger from under her chin.
"I want to go with her to the hospital." Emma said suddenly. She didn't like her sister having to go back to the hospital so soon after having practically dying in it. She wasn't going to let anything else happen to her sister.
"Emma, there is going to be a lot of waiting around." Snow said softly.
"I don't care. I just want to be there." Emma said seriously.
David and Snow glanced at each other having a silent conversation with each other.
"Ok. You can be there, but you will come a little bit later with me. Ella has to be there at 6, but the surgery isn't until 8 so we will get there around 7:15." Snow told her.
"Okay, as long as I can be there." Emma said in relief.
Ella on the other hand was feeling rather nervous and couldn't eat anymore. She liked that her Dad was going to take her, but she wanted her mom there too. Plus it was just nerve racking having to go back again and have a surgery. Not to mention having to get poked and prodded again. She didn't like being in the hospital.
"Ella, please try to eat a little more." Snow said softly as she noticed Ella hadn't ate much of her food. She needed to eat a little more for her medicine.
"I'm not hungry." Ella said with a frown.
"Sweetie, you need to eat a little more before you take your medicine." Snow told her softly as she stood up and grabbed Ella's medicine from her purse.
"I don't need medicine, Mom." Ella said with a frown as her mom read the instructions on the medicine bottle.
"Yes, you do." David responded with a knowing look.
Ella looked over at him in surprise. "No, I don't."
"You are in pain so yes you do need it." David responded.
"But…" Ella started.
"Ella, your father is right. You need the medicine and you will take it." Snow interrupted her as she set the bottle down and David grabbed it to read the instructions as well. "Now eat a little more please." She added softly.
Ella nodded and tried to eat a little more.
After eating and getting Ella to take her medicine, Snow and David began to clean up.
"Emma, can you help your mom clear the table?" David asked as he went to pick up Ella.
Emma nodded and started to clear the table.
"Come on, Ella, let's get you settled for that nap." David said as he picked her up and brought her to the couch.
"I don't need a nap." Ella whined as he set her down on the couch.
"Hey, I thought your mother told you not to complain." David said with raised eyebrows.
Ella opened and closed her mouth unsure of what to say to that. She didn't think he would be a stickler on the complaining like her mom was, but it seemed he was using it against her which wasn't fair. They were teaming up against her!
"Now get some sleep." David said as he grabbed a blanket to cover her up with.
"I'm not tired." Ella whined.
David smiled softly. "Yes you are. I know you didn't sleep earlier and that medicine will make you a little sleepy so I want you to at least try to rest."
Ella frowned, but nodded anyway.
"Good girl." David said as he patted her knee and got up from the couch.
David headed back into the kitchen and Ella frowned, she didn't want to sleep when everyone was awake. Yes, she was tired, extremely tired, but that didn't mean she would sleep while her family was awake.
After a few minutes, Emma came into the living room. "That didn't work out very well." Emma said quietly as she sat down to "read" like she was told to do.
"I know, but maybe we can still can try." Ella said as she bit her lip. She slowly uncovered herself and pulled her legs off the couch before standing up.
"Oh you have a death wish, don't you?" Emma said with a giggle.
Ella smirked and walked over to Emma.
"Emma, I want you to be…." David said as he came into the living room without look up at first. Then he saw Ella standing beside Emma. "Ella." David scolded.
Ella looked over at her Dad. "I'm not tired." She whined defiantly.
David frowned at her. He just talked to her about this. "Ella, we already discussed this." David said as he came up to her. "And about you being on your leg."
"But its fine." Ella continued to whine, knowing that she was digging herself a whole.
"No it's not." David responded as he was about to pick her up.
Ella backed up to avoid him picking her up. "I don't need to be carried." Ella said as he crossed her arms over her chest. "And I don't need to sleep."
David crossed his arms as well and looked down at her with a stern look. "Ella, it's not an option."
"Yes it is." Ella responded defiantly.
David narrowed his eyes as he realized what she was doing. "Emma, go on in the kitchen with your mother. I need to speak with your sister." David said quietly.
Emma glanced at her sister as she made her way out of the room. This was her chance to test her mom. However, she was worried about what her Dad was going to do to Ella.
"Ella, what is going on?" David asked seriously.
Ella frowned. "Nothing. I just don't want to sleep or be stuck sitting." Ella complained.
"I know it isn't easy, but it is necessary. Your mother and I are just looking out for you." David said softly.
"But I'm fine." Ella continued to argue just to see what he would do.
"Ella, that's enough arguing and whining." David said sternly as Ella just glared at him with a stubborn look on her face. "Come on, back to the couch."
"No." Ella argued back. She couldn't stop now and she really didn't like him being stern with her. Plus she didn't want to keep laying down and she definitely didn't want to take a nap.
"Don't tell me 'no,' young lady." David responded firmly, getting frustrated with her defiant behavior. "I know your mother raised you to be respectful and obedient so I suggest you start listening to me or else there will be consequences you will not like." David warned her.
Ella snapped her head up to look at him in worry.
"Now, you are going back to the couch to take your nap." David said when he got her attention. He put an arm around her shoulders to lead her back to the couch.
Ella knew not to push him any further so she let him lead her to the couch.
"Lay down." David said softly as he got to the couch.
Ella laid down obediently, but had a grumpy look on her face.
"Now I know you don't want to sleep, but if you want to be able to watch the movie tonight then you need to take this nap." David told her softly as he tucked her in with the blanket. "No more getting up either, okay?" David reminded her.
Ella started to pout instead of answering him.
David hid a smile at her pouting like she was, but had to keep up his firm pretense. "You can pout all you want, but you will rest and stay off your leg."
Ella continued to pout, but didn't argue or complain.
David kissed her forehead. "I love you." He whispered before getting up from the couch to go back to the kitchen.
*****OUAT*****
Earlier….
Emma walked into the kitchen and went to Snow's side.
"I thought that you were reading?" Snow said softly.
"Dad sent me in here so he could lecture Ella and get her to lay back down." Emma told her with a shrug of her shoulders.
Snow glanced towards the living room, but knew David could handle Ella.
"Mom?" Emma said.
Snow smiled at hearing her call her Mom. "What is it, sweetie?"
"Do I have write that letter?" she complained.
"Yes you do." Snow said with a firm voice, but not unkind voice.
"But it's so boring." Emma complained again.
"Well it isn't supposed to be fun, it's a consequence." Snow replied.
"Well I don't want to do it." Emma continued to complain as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Snow looked over at her and frowned. She knew she had been complaining a little bit ago and David had talked to her, but it seemed she was at it again. "Emma, we aren't going to change your consequence so you can stop complaining about it."
"But I don't want to do it. This isn't school." She complained.
"Emma, I know that I haven't been your mom for long yet, but you know that I don't put up with complaining when it comes to consequences. You're the one that got yourself in trouble so you need to take responsibility for your actions and face your consequences." Snow responded firmly to Emma.
"But…" Emma tried again.
"Or more complaint and I'll give you something to complain about…" Snow warned losing her patience with her daughter's complaining.
Emma opened her mouth to complain again, but then got a stern look from her mom and knew if she said one more thing she would get chores to do.
"Good choice, now it sounds like the coast is clear so you can go read." Snow said when she knew Emma had decided to listen to her instead of arguing with her.
"Do…" Emma started, but then stopped quickly, realizing she almost complained again.
Snow smiled when Emma walked away without finishing her sentence. It would take some time, but both girls would get use to them parenting them together and apart. She knew that it was new to them, but they would figure it out.
"Your daughter….is stubborn." David said as he came over to Snow, wrapping his arms around her.
"Your daughter is stubborn too." Snow said with a smirk.
"Which daughter are you talking about?" David asked with smile.
"The oldest one, the one complaining left and right since we gave out their punishments." Snow said with a smile. "What daughter are you talking about?" Snow asked even if she knew.
"The youngest one, the one getting up every chance she gets to push my buttons. She even told me 'no.'' David said with a shake of his head.
Snow smiled. "I think our girls are trying to see what they can get away with before we lay the law down."
"I know. I'm afraid that it isn't over either." David said with a sigh, but smiled as well. He loved his girls even when they were being mischievous and stubborn.
"Nope. It's just beginning." Snow said with a smirk before kissing her husband on the cheek.