Ouat Emma and her mother

Nightmares

This story is set after 3x22 right after Emma comes back to the present.

I'm pulled out of my dreams by my mother shaking me. We have been celebrating the birth of my brother at Granny's. I am so exhausted from everything I went through in the enchanted forest. I'm emotionally exhausted because I'm finally opening up to loving Hook, and finally realizing how much I need my parents. I'm physically exhausted because sword fighting and running from the black knights is hard work.
"Emma?" I open my eyes and look across the table at my mom. I can't seem to keep my eyes open.

"Hey, Charming? I think we should head home, Neal is getting pretty tired." My mom says to my dad. I can tell by the look in her eyes that she means I need to go home and get some rest. I give her an appreciative smile. Henry comes over and gives me a hug.
"Have a good time with your mom, I'll see you tomorrow kid." I tell him and watch him walk away. The thought of going to that empty hotel room,that I've been living in since returning to Storybrooke, sounds so lonely.
I notice my mom studying my face, with a thoughtful look.
"Emma, sweetie, why don't you come home with your father and I? We could use some extra help with your brother."
"Sure I guess, if you really need my help." I tell her, not wanting to sound too eager.
So we head to the car and drive to the apartment. By the time we get there, I am ready for bed.
As we enter the apartment I look around and take in the familiarity. This is the closest place to home I've ever had.
"Well, I'm beat. I'm gonna head up to bed." I tell my parents.
"Okay sweetie goodnight." My mother says.
"Goodnight Emma." My dad responds.
As soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm out.
I'm running down the halls of the Evil Queens castle with Killian, a very different version of my father, and a werewolf who happens to be Ruby. We can't find my mother or Snow White in this world anywhere. We reach the windows at the end of the hallway and I'm filled with fear. My sweet innocent mother is being tied to a post.
"We have to get down there before it's too late." I hear myself say.
"I don't think we can." The Prince replies.
"No!" I say as Killian holds me tight. My mother can't die. I need her. I need her to continue telling me that everything is gonna be alright even during the worst scenarios. I need her to give me hope when I feel hopeless. I never truly opened up to her. I never thanked her for all that she does. I never got to tell her that I love her. She's told me time and time again but I never said it back. But I do, I really love my mother.
I watch in horror as the Evil Queen sends a blazing fireball straight at my mothers figure.
"No! Mom! Mom, please! I need you!!" I scream and cry into my pirates chest. I can't believe she's just gone.

*SNOWS POV*
I wake up from my sleep to the sounds of cries. Neal must've woken up. I climb out of bed and check on the baby only to find him sound asleep, the cries aren't coming from him, but from my daughter. I run up the stairs into her bedroom to find her tangled up in her sheets with tears coming down her face. It kills me to see my strong warrior cry.
"No, mom!" I hear her cry out. I slowly walk closer to her and shake her shoulder.
"Emma, wake up!" I say to her.
*EMMAS POV*
I'm pulled out of my sleep and wake up gasping. I'm looking around trying to figure out where I am. I'm no longer in a castle, watching my mother die, but in my bedroom looking at her.
"Emma, sweetie are you alright?" She asks me. I can't believe she's okay. She's not gone. I still have time with her. I want more than anything to pull her into a hug and cry into her shoulder, but I don't want to be weak.
"Yea, I'm okay. It was just a nightmare that's all." I tell her. She looks at me for a minute and rests her hand against my cheek, using her thumb to wipe away stray tears.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asks me.
"I think I'm good." I tell her out of impulse, although I want more than anything to tell her everything.
"Do you want to be alone?" She asks me and suddenly I remember the day I came home from work and Mary Margaret was crying on the bed over David Nolan breaking her heart. Sometimes I forget that my mom is that same person. My bestfriend who I could eventually tell all my troubles and secrets too, the one I fought so hard to protect. Now that we know she's my mother its so different. I don't tell her more than needed and she fights so hard to protect me. But I miss that connection. I miss late night conversations over hot coco. I miss listening to her kind words and advice. I don't know how to be a daughter and I let that fear of being let down control me. Maybe this once I should let her in.
"Mom?"
"Yes my darling?"
"I want to talk about it. Can we go downstairs and have some coco?"
"Of course we can Emma." I try not to look in her eyes, but I know she's so happy that I want to talk for the first time in a long time. So we head downstairs and I sit on a stool by the counter as she makes the coco. Once she's done she hands me a mug and sits down beside me.
"So what was the dream about?" She asks.
"It was about you. The moment the Evil Queen tried to execute you. It just felt so real and I was so scared. The thought of losing you before I got the chance to really let myself be your daughter killed me. I guess I've always been so afraid of being loved and loving back." I let out a breath after finally admitting myself to someone. I look over and see a soft almost sad smile on her face. She takes my hand in hers and gives it a reassuring squeeze.
"I remember after the blue fairy turned me human, a girl I didn't know gave me a hug. Afterwords I remember looking in her eyes and seeing joy, and maybe even love. I didn't understand it at the time but I do now. It must've been so hard seeing me almost die. I bet it didn't help when I didn't even recognize you. I'm sorry for all that. I'm not perfect, and I can't promise you that I won't fail. But I love you Emma. You are everything I hoped you would be and I'm so proud of you for telling me," She tells me and I can't stop myself from standing up and giving her a hug. She stands up too and pulls me close. Eventually I pull away and she wipes the tears that I didn't even know were there.
"It's getting late. We need to get some sleep." She tells me and I nod and head towards the stairs. The fear of having another nightmare causes me to stop at the bottom stair. I turn and look at my mother knowing she was my solution.
"Will you stay with me tonight? I don't want to be alone." I tell her. Her face lights up with a big smile.
"Of course I will."
She follows me up the stairs and lays down in my bed. I lay down next to her and rest my head on her shoulder as she wraps her arm around me.
"Mom?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
"Oh my darling I love you more than you'll ever know."
I don't think I ever felt so safe in my life.