Title: Through thick and thin
author: Cindy Ryan
category: post ep
spoilers: 4x7

David kissed Snow on the forehead as he quietly slipped out of their bedroom. His wife had fallen into an exhausted sleep barely an hour before. David was halfway to the door before he stopped realizing that he had no idea where to look for his daughter. With a sigh Charming turned and walked to the window leaning against the wall staring out at the night. The little movement he'd done had aggravated his bruised shoulder. David ignored the pain he had declined the pain meds wanting to keep a clear head. Snow's word's from earlier echoed through his thoughts.

'We failed, David. When our daughter needed us the most..."

It'd been pure instinct for David to push Emma out of harm's way. He'd do it again; it was what parents did. The pain and hurt David had seen in his daughter's eyes before she fled was one that would stay with him for a long time. Emma had looked so lost he'd wanted nothing more than to hug her and tell her how much he loved her that everything would be alright; that they would fix this. David hadn't had a chance. The fall had knocked the wind out of him and by the time he recovered his daughter was gone. David pulled out his phone from a pocket of his jeans and keyed the last message he'd gotten from Emma.

'I know you want to find me, but don't. I'm dangerous. I don't want to hurt anyone else.'

His messages back to her had gone unanswered. David cleared the screen and looked at the last check in from Hook.

'All her usual places clear...nobody's seen her since this morning.'

David hit a key and dialed the pirate if anyone else wasn't sleeping it was Hook. Killian answered on the third ring.

"Would've called if I'd found her."Jones stated without preamble.

"I know."David replied with a sigh. "I just want her home."

"I've looked everywhere I can think of...she thinks she's protecting us."Hook stated quietly.

"There's a way to fix this...has to be."David vowed.

"Snow Queen knows or she wouldn't have activated Emma's power to that level."Hook muttered. "When we find the Snow Queen she's mine."

"You'll have to stand in line...she's trying to destroy my family. She'll answer for that."David vowed angrily.

"If you talk to Emma..."Killian began but trailed off.

"She'll come back to us and you can tell her yourself."David promised.

"I don't have the faith you people have."Hook admitted quietly. "Emma's hurt, angry and alone. Family isn't a sacrifice the savior should have to make."

"It isn't and she won't...I don't care what anybody thinks."David responded making an effort to keep his voice down. "I lost her once...that won't happen again."

"Since I'm not getting any sleep tonight."Hook observed. "I'll take another look around town. I don't think she's stayin' in one spot for long."

"If you find Emma tell her that her family hasn't given up on her. That we never will."David said quietly.

"I will but I don't think I'll have to."Hook replied."No matter how twisted and confused her thoughts are deep down Emma knows you lot are behind her and always will be."

Killian ended the conversation and David put the phone back in his pocket. He looked out the window once more before walking over to his infant son's crib. Neal was sound asleep and David reached in and gently placed a finger on a tiny left hand. As he did David thought about what Hook had said that Emma knew they were behind her no matter what. He hoped more than anything that was true. He knew how someone could twist things in a person's mind when they were upset and angry. They had given Emma up before the first curse to give her the best chance at life. It'd taken a long time to get to where they are as a family and David wasn't going to give that up without a fight. There was a way out of this mess and he was going to find it no matter what it took.

end