Pinocchio's Princess

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Summary: AU Emma's turning eighteen and her parents are planning a huge ball to introduce her to the eligible princes of Fairy-Tale Land. The problem is that Emma's heart is already taken – it belongs to Pinocchio, the son of a woodcarver, whom she's been secretly seeing for years. Maybe it's time to come out with the truth… (August/Emma with Charming family fluff)

Well, this story was originally intended to be a one-shot but when it hit 6000 words, I began to debate with myself – should I divide it up into chapters or should I leave it as a one-shot? I decided on leaving it as a one-shot so now I'm posting it in four chapters. I know…

Chapter 1

Emma was still braiding her hair with deft fingers as she was making her way out of her bedchamber, her cloak dangling thrown over one arm. She didn't even spare a fleeting glance for her full-length ornate mirror to check her appearance as she passed by. Securing the end of the braid, she carefully opened her door and peeked out.

Making sure that nobody was nearby, she stepped out and hastily threw her cloak over her shoulders then turned towards the kitchen where – being the busiest part of the castle in any time of the day and even more so with the ball coming up – she knew she could sneak out without being noticed.

Fortunately the sitting room where she should be at the moment with her two younger sisters improving her needlework was in another part of the castle and she didn't have to risk being caught by her mistress. But she did have to pass by Ms Azure's chamber where Dorothy and Andrew were playing with their nanny. Although the door was open, she managed to skip by unnoticed and not long after that she reached a fairly silent part of the castle… that was until she got to the kitchen area.

As always, nobody thought twice about her presence in that part of the castle as they were bustling around. Well, most probably they didn't even notice that King James' eldest daughter was scurrying in their midst.

Emma was just about to slip out of the castle through the large door that was open for the men who were carrying the supply that had just arrived from town when a small hand grabbed her wrist.

She gasped surprised then glanced down at the little girl who'd got a hold on her. It was little Dora blinking up at her. Emma smiled; Dorothy was her favorite little sister.

She'd never really felt particularly close to either of her other two sisters. At thirteen and fifteen, they were both closer to her age than five years old Dora but both Annabella and Marianne tired Emma to no end with their mindless chatter about dashing princes and courageous knights who'd sweep them off of their feet one day and make them queens of wondrous lands… or some crap like that. Emma had no interest in such things: princes with flawless manner and perfect look annoyed her, heroic knights and their pompous boasting pissed her off, and she definitely did not wish to become a queen.

With her tomboy attitude, Dora was different, just like seven-year-old Andrew. The little boy with his cheerful disposition and trusting openness towards everybody was nothing like his elder brother, sixteen years old Anthony. He was born to be a king, always so pragmatic and serious with a stern, mistrustful look in his blue eyes that belied his young age. Emma suspected he wouldn't recognize fun if it hit him in his pretty face.

This, of course, didn't mean that she didn't love any of her siblings but the two youngest held a special place in her heart.

She hoped her son – if she was given the chance to bear one – would be like little Andrew. He was able to bring light to a gloomy day.

"Doll," Emma hissed her nickname for her baby sister, her eyes worriedly running through their surroundings to gauge whether she'd been made out. "What are you doing here?" she looked back down at the little girl and, however annoyed she was by Dora following her, she couldn't help the loving smile that tugged at her lips.

"Can I go with you?" Dora didn't beat around the bush and at once Emma noticed that his sister had her travelling cloak with her. That girl would give a lot of headache to their parents in the upcoming years. Emma was impressed.

"No," she shook her head hoping for Dora to accept the answer.

"Why?" Of course, she was in that age when every statement coming from others was followed with a question of why from Dora. In the case of her little sister, this age seemed to last for years as she'd been torturing her family with endless inquiries ever since she started to speak.

Emma sighed.

"Because…" she started trailing off not really knowing what to say. Telling a five-year-old that she was fully intending to screw the daylight out of her secret boyfriend and she didn't need to have her around for that wouldn't be the wisest idea. "Because… I want to entrust you with an important task," she finally said assuming a grave expression.

"Really?" the little girl's face lit up with excitement and Emma congratulated herself for the nice save.

"Really," she nodded. "But you have to take it seriously… very seriously," she warned the girl who nodded, already attributing enormous significance to her duty. "You have to go back and pretend that you didn't see me. Can you do that… for me?"

"Yeah."

"Good girl," she tousled Dora's hair with a warm smile.

"Love you, Emmy," the little girl suddenly threw her arms around Emma's waist and squeezed her.

Emma laughed out, "I love you, too, Doll. Now go." She patted her on the back and watched as she started to run, her dark curls bouncing on her back. She was just about to turn around and continue on her way when Dora stopped her.

"Emmy," she called to her sister. Emma groaned. She loved that little girl immensely but she was really frustrating at times. Their mother liked to point out that she was exactly like Emma had been at her age.

"Yes?" she turned back with a patient expression.

"Will you take me out to ride?"

Really? Emma groaned inwardly. Was it really necessary to discuss that right now?

"Of course, Sweetheart," Emma mustered up yet another patient smile, wishing to be on her way already.

"Without the saddle?" Dora bounced excitedly.

Bareback? Emma rolled her eyes. Of course, why not? She'd take out a five-year-old to ride a horse without any security. Their parents would love that. But hell, at that moment she'd promise the little girl that she'd teach her how to jump the ruined stone fence of the old stables if that was what she wanted.

Emma nodded. "Tomorrow, okay?"

"Yay," the little exclaimed then turned around and, skillfully navigating among the people running up and down in the busy kitchen, she ran away.

Emma let out a sigh of relief then turned around and hastily left the building.

TBC

Thanks for reading!