Three gentle raps on the door snapped Emma out of her thoughts.

"Who is it?!"

The door creaked open slightly. David's voice floated through the space between door and frame. "Just me, Emma. May I come in?"

Emma sighed with relief, that it wasn't her mother. She had seen her earlier that morning, and she was so caught up with last minute wedding details, that Emma didn't really have a chance to talk to her.

Her heart could rest easy now. Dad was here.

David stepped into the room and stopped immediately when he saw her. Like the air had been knocked out of him.

"Emma...you look..."

"I know, I know." She answered. "So girly."

David smiled at his girl. "I have never seen anything more beautiful."

Emma blushed at her father's words.

"Well," he continued, "give me a spin, let me see!"

Emma smiled wide at him and obliged, the fabric of her gorgeous light blue dress flaring up and about her, like the waves on the sea, sparkling and glittering in the midday sun.

David fought back a tear as he watched his daughter spin, her happiness shining brighter than a thousand of those suns. He had watched her grow throughout the years, and now, here she was. A beautiful, strong, intelligent woman, about to be married off...

The silence settled between them as they made their way over to the balcony. The doors were wide open, allowing the cool breeze from the sea to float in.

"Beautiful day for a wedding," David commented.

Emma's voice had grown quieter now. "Yeah. It is."

Naturally, David noticed the change in her tone.

"Are you ready?"

Emma turned her lips up into a smile and looked at him.

"Yes. Just a little nervous, I guess."

David turned and embraced her in his arms, taking in her scent, cradling her head with his palm.

"No need to worry, Emma. I'll be right there, and so will your mother. You have an entire kingdom supporting you, and they want nothing but your happiness. So do we."

"Really?" she asked earnestly.

"Of course. And you also have Killian, too."

The sound of her fiance's name brought a smile to Emma's face and her eyes lit up.

"Yeah," she said. "I think I'll let him stick around for awhile. He's a keeper."

David smiled. "Yes, but can he dance?"

Emma laughed. "What in the-"

And not a moment later, her father had dragged her over the middle of the room and was spinning her around in a dance.

As they laughed and twirled together, David felt a sort of bittersweet happiness, knowing that in just a few short hours, this would all be over.

But for now, she was in his arms. She was still his little princess. And part of him knew that she always would be.