The sun had barely peaked the horizon as the Charmings bustled around Mary Margret's apartment. They had managed to stay together for two months now but between all the chaos and David's resistance to establish a home in Storybrooke, all four Charmings were all living in an apartment that was only meant for two. David entered the kitchen to find Emma reading the daily Mirror and sipping a large coffee while his wife stood across the island holding her hot beverage and tapping her fingers in sequence over and over again across the mug.
"Good morning," Mary Margret stopped tapping and smiled.
"Good morning," he came around the island, leaned in for a kiss, then turned to grab a coffee for himself.
"David, I've been thinking," Mary Margret sounded hesitant.
"Yes?" he replied.
"Things have been getting on pretty well, for a while now. Cora is gone for good, we've come to an agreement with Regina, and thanks to Emma, Hook has promised not to kill Rumplestilskin, for now."
Emma looked up from the paper.
"I know you want to go back to the Enchanted Forest and I'm still not fully convinced I agree but I would like it if we brought a little bit of Enchanted Forest here. Ever since Emma and I returned I have been more home sick, at least for the kingdom the curse destroyed. "
"What exactly did you have in mind?"
"I think we should throw a ball! We can invite everyone in town and people can dress up, maybe not is the gowns that we were used to, but this world's formal attire none the less. It can be a celebration for our victory and for being at peace at last!"
Emma put the paper down and turned her eyes to her mother.
"You know what? I think it a wonderful idea. I like the idea of a real celebration, not just another dinner party." David smiled from Mary Margret to Emma.
"A ball?" Emma asked.
"YES!" Mary Margret exclaimed stretching her arm across the table to cover Emma's hand in hers. "It will be wonderful! It'll give you a taste of what you missed out on all these years and it will give me the chance to be the mother I never got to be to you. I'll get to take you out shopping, buy the perfect dress, help you with your hair..."
"I don't like where this is going." Emma mumbled.
"...we can even make it your introduction ball. It's a perfect idea."
"What's a perfect idea?" Henry chimed in as he made his way down the stairs dressed for school with his backpack hanging off his shoulders.
"Uh," Emma turned to her son, "Your grandmother thinks it would be a good idea to throw the town a ball."
"Awesome!" Henry replied taking a seat at the counter.
"Awesome." Emma said then spun back around.
"Would I get to wear one of those cool outfits and everything? Would it be just like a ball in the Enchanted Forest?" Henry questioned both Emma and Mary Margret.
"Well," Mary Margret jumped in to answer, "we'll have to see what we can scrounge up but I do want the ball to be like the ones we used to have. We'll have a huge dance floor and a live band that will play our usual set-list. Of course, we'll have to teach you and your mother all the ballroom dances."
"Now just a second," Emma interrupted. "I know that I'm your daughter and technically that means I am the daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White but I'm no princess. No offense but ballroom dancing and fancy fairy tale gowns, not really my cup of tea."
"Emma, I know that a ball isn't your ideal idea of fun but can you honestly tell me that you've never thought of what it would be like to be princess for a day?" Mary Margret asked.
Emma opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out.
"Emma," David stepped in. "I know in this world the idea of throwing a ball sounds, well, silly, but I can promise you, it will be fun. I have some very fond memories of balls," He turned to smile at Mary Margret. "And don't go complaining about the clothes because you're not the only one that's going to have to dress up. I remember going from a shepherd to a prince; all of a sudden the clothes were way more complicated."
"What?" Henry asked curiously.
"Nothing you have to be worried Henry," David replied.
"So?" Snow asked Emma.
"Well..." she hesitated to answer.
"Please Emma! Aren't you curious about what life might have been like in the Enchanted Forest?" Henry pleaded.
"You forgot that I've been there and seen the castle, or what is left of it anyways," Emma said then looked down at her coffee for a moment. "You know what. What the hell? If you make the arrangements, find a place and a date to throw this thing, then I will go but right now, I'm going to go to work. Come on kid, let's get you to school."