Broken OUAT

Chapter 5 - Little Brother

Emma had only gotten a couple hours of sleep, before being woken up by the sounds of Parker crying. Emma groaned as she turned to look at the alarm clock. 5:30am.

Emma sat up and took Parker into her arms, trying to calm him down before he woke Oliver. She changed his diaper before heading into the kitchen.

"You're up early!"

Emma jumped. Her mom stood by the kitchen counter, sipping at a cup of coffee.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." She apologized. "Can't sleep?"

"That's okay. Parker was up, I didn't want him waking Oliver." She explained. "What about you? I mean, you've always been an early riser but this is early even for you."

Mary Margaret shrugged as she took another sip of her coffee. "Just couldn't sleep."

Emma studied her mother's face. She knew exactly why she couldn't sleep, and it was because of her and what happened.

"Can...can I...?" Mary Margaret hesitated.

Emma knew what her mom wanted. She wanted to hold Parker. Emma didn't have a problem with her mom holding him, but she wasn't sure he would go to her.

"If he'll let you." Emma said. "He's not really used to other people holding him."

Mary Margaret set her cup down on the counter and reached her arms out.

"Hi Parker!" Mary Margaret cooed.

The moment that Parker was in his grandmother's arms, he began to cry. His face grew red as the cries became louder. His chubby hands reached out toward's Emma, breaking her heart.

"Shhh, it's okay." Mary Margaret whispered as she bounced him slightly, but the stubborn little boy arched his back and started to scream.

Emma was just about to take him back, when she heard a cry from the other room.

"Mommy? MOMMY?"

Emma looked torn.

"Go." Mary Margaret told her. "I've got him. He'll be okay."

Emma didn't move. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Oliver continued to scream. Emma gave her mom a grateful smile before rushing off to comfort her older son.

When she walked into the bedroom, Oliver was sitting up in bed, tears rolling down his face. He was close to hyperventilating. Emma quickly strode forward and pulled her sobbing son into her arms.

"Shhh. It's okay Ollie, I'm here. I'm right here."

"Y...y...you w...were g...g...gone." He blubbered.

Emma rocked him gently as she whispered soothing words into his ear. "I'm right here baby. I didn't go anywhere."

Once Oliver had calmed down, she took him to the bathroom before heading to the kitchen.

Her mother was sitting in the chair, rubbing a soothing hand over Parker's back. He had stopped screaming, but was still whimpering. Emma's father was now in the room, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He smiled when he saw them.

"Good morning." He said as he walked over and planted a kiss on Emma's head. Emma flinched and she hated herself for it. If her dad noticed, he didn't say anything. He then got down on Oliver's level. "Hey bud."

"Hi."

Parker turned at the sound of his brother and his eyes landed on Emma. The moment he spotted her, he began to cry again. Emma couldn't take it any longer, so she took him back. His cries immediately stopped.