The Peace Offering

"I just don't think I can talk to you right now James." Snow says as she lay in bed with her arms crossed over her chest.

"So much for Happily ever after." This gets him a swat on the arm. "Snow... I was joking! Come on are you really that mad at me?" His question was met with Silence as the woman turned over to lay in bed facing the wall away from him. "I'm sorry alright? No more fighting... Okay?" She remained silent only reaching to turn out the lamp on her side of the bed.

Charming sits up in bed staring out into the living room trying to think of a way to give Snow her space to cool off. Slowly he climbs out of bed and heads upstairs to Emma and Henry's room.

With a very light knock on the door he pushes it open to find Henry sleeping but meets eyes with a very awake Emma. He smiles awkwardly before whispering to her, "I... um... I had a small argument with Snow and now she won't talk to me."

Emma smiles trying not to laugh at how silly that sounded. She watches him as he comes closer to the bed to glance down at Henry as he sleeps. "Do you think... maybe you could switch sleeping partners with me just for tonight? I'd sleep on the couch but It's too small and Snow needs her space to... you know... forget that she's mad at me."

Emma smiles bigger this time and with a curt nod starts to get out of the bed taking care not to wake her son. Before she has the chance to pass him by James grabs her arm to stop her and say, "When we do manage to find a bigger home I'll at least have an extra room to run to... you know... when this happens again."

Emma lets out a quiet laugh before nodding in understanding. "Yeah, I'm sure it won't be your last time in the dog house."

This gets a grin from James. "Thanks. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." She says as she pulls the door shut behind her.

She sweeps past the curtain of the bedroom downstairs and notices that the lamp is out on Snow's side of the bed. Uncertain if she is awake she quietly makes her way to the bed to sit down slowly and look over to see if she's going to acknowledge her or not. She leans over to see if she is indeed sleeping when Snow suddenly says sounding a bit irritated, "Stop watching me."

Emma gasps before speaking up. "Um... I'm sorry..."

Snow looks back over her shoulder, "Emma? I thought you were James. What are you doing down here?"

"He came up and asked if we could switch places for tonight since you were mad at him." She grins.

"Did he wake you? I can't believe him..." Snow starts to accuse.

"No no... I was awake." She says quickly. "Henry fell asleep while we were talking and I sort of... stayed up... watching him." She climbs under the covers but lays down to face Snow.

Snow rolls over to face Emma properly and reaches out to grasp her wrist and smile at her. "Making up for lost time then?" She asks quietly.

"Yeah, I guess." She smiles rolling her eyes a little embarrassed that she even admitted to watching her son.

"We both missed out on a lot of that..." She says with a sad smile, "but I'm glad we are all together now." She meets Emma's eyes and chances reaching out to tuck a few strands of blonde hair behind her ear.

Emma places her own hand over Snow's to keep it pressed against her cheek. "Yeah." She whispers as she shuts her eyes to let the warmth of this comforting hand sooth her. She lets go of Snow's hand and opens her eyes before asking, "So what were you two fighting about?"

"It wasn't a fight. It was a misunderstanding. I'm just having a hard time getting through to him that's all. Ever since I suggested we move out he's... he's... Oh I don't know..."

Emma lets out a small laugh. "He's being a man?"

"Yes." She smiles narrowing her eyes. "Anyway, I just got tired of arguing so I was using the silent treatment on him."

"Nice... and from what I gather... effective."

"Yeah, little did I know he would send you down here to butter me up." She says as she rubs Emma's arm comfortingly.

The grin on Emma's face only gets bigger as she lets out a breathy laugh. "Is that what I'm doing here? Wow... I just played right into his plan didn't I?"

"He's a crafty one." She says with a quick shake of her head. "He's playing all his cards here... even the Daddy's little girl card."

"Oh please. No way am I a Daddy's girl." Emma says shaking her head trying not to laugh too loudly.

"No? You don't thinks so?" Snow says smartly meeting that bright smile and the shining eyes before her. "Of course you're not." She says knowingly before grasping Emma's arm. "You found me first so of course you're mine." She laughs pulling Emma to her.

Emma allows herself to be held. She tucks her head under Snow's chin and wraps her arms around her. "He's not always going to be able to take advantage of me like this once you guys move out."

"That's very true..." She says rubbing Emma's back soothingly. "What a shame."

Emma laughs. "Why is that?"

"The only reason he won this argument is because he sent you and I have obviously caved. It was a devious plan but one he will not put to future use."

Emma only laughs again nuzzling against Snow's chest. "Well at least he didn't let you go to bed angry."

"Yes. Considerate of him." She says quietly. "I honestly didn't think it was possible he could use you this way. A grown woman no less. I mean... could you imagine if you were still an infant. Oh, he' d be leaving you with me all the time just to have his way." She jokes.

"Well... if the arguments you have always end up this way for me I definitely wouldn't mind it. It's not so bad being used as a peace offering. Not if it means I get to be close to you guys."

Snow leans back to look Emma in the eye. "Well... you don't need to wait around for us to argue just to have an excuse to be close to us Emma."

Emma blushes and turns away, "I know... but it'll make it easier for me when you do." She laughs pulling out of the embrace. She rolls over to face away while she whispers over her shoulder. "Goodnight".

Snow snuggles up to Emma's back and wraps her arms around her daughter before whispering, "Goodnight Emma."

*** I have two more chapters to review and I'll add them. Hope you stick around and thanks for the reads.