Some Daddy Charming feels, based on the events of the first three episodes of season 3 (possible SPOILERS). I miss these father-daughter scenes on the show, and that's why I decided to write an one- potential two- or three shot. Depending on how you like it :) So please leave a review, pretty please :)
All mistakes are mine. I don't own anything either :)
Emma had noticed over the last few days that her dad closed himself off from everyone. It didn't bother her at first, he probably needed a break from being around Regina and Hook. That's what she initially thought at least.
But it had happened more often today that David left the group, and Emma knew that he just made up excuses to be on his own. She saw it in his eyes, and it started to bother her.
When Snow and Regina were preparing dinner, she sneaked off to find her dad. But of course, that didn't go unnoticed.
''Emma? Where're you going?'' asks Snow.
''I'll be right back,'' answers the blonde and she shows her mother, what hopefully is, a reinsuring smile.
Finding David sitting against the trunk of a tree, she doesn't say a word and lowers herself down to sit next to him.
Her father is throwing pebbles in the creek in front of him and has a distant look in his eyes.
Emma feels that something's up, but she doesn't know how to ask him. The naturalness of how she had learned to talk with her mother, didn't count for when she was talking with her dad. They just hadn't had the time yet to bond with one another properly. Besides, she got the feeling that her father was as much of a talker as herself. Great…
David's sweating, and the drops on his face are shining in the light of the full moon.
The blonde is still thinking about a way to talk to her dad, when she suddenly feels his hand on her shoulder. She looks up and sees the pain and worry reflected in his eyes.
''Are you okay?'' asks David.
''I wanted to ask you the same question,'' replies Emma.
He pushes back a lock of hair behind her ear. ''I'm fine Emma. Really,'' he adds when he notices that his daughter doesn't believe him.
''Superpower, remember?'' asks the blonde. ''I can see that you're lying. And you're closing yourself off from the rest of the group so often. What's going on?''
''Nothing for you to worry about.'' He gives her a small smile.
''Is it Mary Margaret? Is something wrong with her?''
''Oh no, Emma, nothing is wrong with her. Everything's fine.''
A silence arises as none of the two knows anything to say.
''We probably should get back. Dinner is ready soon,'' says the blonde as she gets up and starts returning to the camp.
''Hey Emma?''
''Yeah?'' she answers as she turns around.
''Maybe we can just sit here for another few minutes, and, I don't know, talk maybe? I just don't know… Well, I'm not really good at these things.''
His daughter takes a deep breath before answering. ''That's okay. Neither am I.'' Slowly she returns and sits back down on the forest floor.
Suddenly there's a lot of wind, and the blonde's hair sweep up dangerously.
On the one hand she's glad that her father wants to talk with her. It's something she has wished for her entire life. On the other hand, it scares her, because they've never had a serious conversation before.
It's like her father can read her mind. ''I know we never got the chance to talk before. I just want you to know that if me and your mother were able to change history, we would do it in a heartbeat. You didn't deserve the youth you were given Emma.''
''I thought we went over this already?'' asks the blonde a little uneasy. She moves nervously, and can't seem to find a comfortable sitting position.
''I know, we did, but Snow always did the talking. I wanted to have said it too. To make sure that you know that I completely feel the same way.''
''It's okay, I know you do. And I'm sorry too.''
''Why're you sorry?''
Emma looks at David and sees that he really has no clue what she's apologizing for. ''Mary Margaret didn't tell you, did she?''
''She didn't tell me what?'''
Emma is somehow relieved that her mother didn't tell David about her revelations earlier. She also knows that it's now or never. If she doesn't tell him now, she probably will never find the courage again to do so. Taking a deep breath, she continues. ''The reason why I got the map to work, is because I admitted who I really am.'' She's afraid to look at David, so she faces her shoes. Her knees are pulled up to her chest. ''I'm… I'm an orphan.'' She waits anxiously for her father's reaction. It's silent for a while, and a sudden sense of fear overwhelms her.
Then her father starts to whisper. ''We were too late weren't we?'' His sound of voice becomes louder, and he scratches his throat. ''We came into your life when it was too late.''
She looks up at him and sees the pain, but also understanding. ''I'm sorry.''
''You don't have to apologize kid. I understand, and I'm going to try my very best to change the way you feel.'' He lays his hand over his daughter's knee.
She didn't expect this reaction at all. She had expected him to be disappointed, angry, confused or hurt, maybe everything at the same time, but nothing like this. Not the understanding that he's displaying. ''I know that you and Mary Margaret are doing your best and you'll continue to do so. And I really appreciate it. I really do. It's just, I need some more time. The majority of my life I've been alone, surviving on my own, having to fight for everything.''
Emma sees that these words touch her father, but he's trying to contain his reaction.
She decides to continue anyway. ''Too much has happened to just accept you as my parents right away. I still feel like the girl I was before. Alone. An orphan. That hasn't changed. And apparently, that's the only truth to it, cause it got the map to work, didn't it?''
Emma's attempt to lighten the air hasn't gone unnoticed by David, but he can't help to feel extremely sad. His little girl is suffering, and he can't be the father he wishes to be for her, because she's not ready yet. What if he never gets to experience having a proper father-daughter relationship with her? What if he dies before they find Henry?
If all the heartache didn't remind him enough about the dreamshade wound and the inescapable death that surely will follow, a throbbing pain in his chest makes it even worse.
He clenches his fists in an attempt to suppress the pain, and sends his daughter another smile. ''I'm so proud of you, do you realize that?''
''Why?'' asks Emma, as her cheeks turn red in embarrassment.
''For everything you've done, for everything you fought for and for everything you've accomplished. For being the best daughter a father could ever ask for.''
''You're just saying that because you feel obligated to do so,'' says the blonde softly.
Forgetting all about the pain in his chest, David takes both of his daughter's hands and squeezes it gently. '''No Emma, I'm not saying these things because of that. I mean it. Every word of it!'' He can't hold back the tears that are forming behind his eyes.
''Are you crying? I didn't realize you were a such a cry baby.''
David knows that the only way Emma knows how to deal with difficult situations like this is to either run away or to be sarcastic. He's happy that she chose for the latter this time and didn't run away. ''So there's much more you can learn about me,'' he says with a grin and glistering eyes.
''It seems so,'' she says, while fidgeting on the edges of her tank top.
Without thinking, David kisses the top of his daughter's head.
Surprisingly, she doesn't even flinch under her father's touch.
He decides to take the risk and puts an arm around Emma's shoulders. When he feels her leaning in, it's one of the most incredible feelings he has ever experienced. This should never stop, he can't imagine not being able to not be there for her. Not being able to hold her when she needs comfort. Not being able to talk to her. To tell her that he loves her. He can't leave her! She needs him! He left her already as a baby, history's not allowed to repeat itself. He needs to stay alive! For his baby girl. His family is the only reason why he keeps on fighting.
He didn't notice that he had started crying again, until Emma places her hand on his cheek.
''Hey David, it's okay. We'll get through this. You and Mary Margaret keep telling me that over and over again, and now it's my turn to tell you. We'll save Henry together, and then we'll leave this godforsaken place.''
You have no idea how much I want that to be true, he thinks, but instead he says: ''We will Emma. We will.''
Their moment together is rudely being disrupted by his wife's voice in the distance. ''Charming? Emma? Dinner is ready!''
''I guess we should get back,'' says Emma once again.
''I'll be right there,'' answers her father.
When Emma, Snow, Regina and Hook all have a roasted piece of what looks like some sort of fruit, they hear a deafening scream coming from deeper in the jungle.
''Charming!'' cries Snow in terror.
Thanks for reading! Would you like to see more, or is this enough? Please let me know. Reviews are much appreciated :)