Here they were, James and Emma walking down the sidewalk together heading to Granny's Diner. They opted to walk rather than drive to sort of give each other more space rather than be cooped up in a car with that more awkward form of silence but seeing as how they were both looking in opposite directions as they walked along this trip seems to have ended up much the same.

Emma couldn't help but giggle to herself at the discomfort.

"What's so funny?" James finally asks looking to her with a grin.

"This... walking... the silence... It's feels..." she shrugs.

"Awkward? Yes well... you're not alone there. What does one do on a walk to keep things normal?"

"Talk... but you know this is pretty normal for me. I mean... I don't normally share my feelings or speak on whatever is running through my mind. I am normally quiet. I guess it's just weird that you are the same way and then it makes the both of us feel awkward when we are together."

"I hate when your... when Snow is right. She knew this might happen. That I would find similarities between us. Funny though how you are the one pointing them out to me." He smiles as they walk along.

She laughs and says, "You don't even know the half of it."

"I guess the things you have in common with Snow are more obvious to me than what you have in common with me because I don't get to observe myself... you know?"

"Well... I can't see much of anything until you both say or do something familiar and very little is familiar these days. Mary Margaret was this sweet hopeless romantic school teacher. She was always afraid of hurting people's feelings and she always cared what people thought of her. That's how I interpreted her character at least. Now she's this Fairy Tale Princess who can sling an arrow and swing a sword. She took down an Ogre and wrestled a famous warrior to the ground. It was like a complete one eighty. I watched her in your old land and I was beyond baffled how this was the same person."

"Yes well... I have to say I liked her better as Mary Margaret. At least I knew she wouldn't beat me over the head if I disagreed with her." He laughs.

"Yeah, I keep forgetting you're both different now. I mean David was always doubtful. He didn't make the right decisions... well... ever. He let too many people influence him but as James you are totally assertive. You form a plan and you follow through. It's definitely different."

"Hey! I can swing a mean sword too you know. You didn't bother to mention that."

"Like I said," She grins and gesture with empty hands, "I haven't seen you in action. Speaking of swords... I used or should I say I wielded your sword."

"When?" He asks.

"Before I broke the curse. When Gold and Regina got it in my head that this... Potion... they had locked away was going to revive Henry from the sleeping curse he was under they sent me on a quest to get it. Before I left his shop Gold brought out the case with your sword in it."

"Wait... what quest? Where did you go looking for this potion." James asks grabbing Emma's arm to stop her from walking.

"I had to battle a dragon hidden away under the old library." Emma says shaking her head almost as if she couldn't believe the words were coming from her own mouth.

" No... Maleficent?" he gasps and suddenly there is a huge grin on his face. "Do you even know how the potion got put in that dragon in the first place?"

"Um... no... Why? Should I?" She asks confused.

"I put it there." He says with a cocky smile as he continues walking leaving Emma in a bit of a stunned state.

She finally comes to and smiles before running to catch up with him just outside Granny's Diner. "No way." She says as he pulls the door open for her.

"Way." He says as he puts a hand to the small of her back to usher her in. He instantly searches out Snow with his eyes hoping to catch the expression on her face when she sees them together.

Emma also looks around before taking a seat in a booth at the front of the diner being sure to face the door.

James finds Snow and Ruby sitting at a table in the back. They both stop talking mid conversation each giving James a rather questioning look. He only smiles a toothy smile and takes a seat across from Emma.

"I gather that the One Up worked?" Emma says with a tilt of her head and a small grin.

"Indeed it did. Thanks." He says reaching across the table to take her hand and squeeze it. "I don't care if you are your Mother's girl, I just enjoyed my Daddy's girl moment."

Emma covers her face slightly embarrassed. "Yeah, well now you owe me lunch and a Dragon story... so pay up Pops."

He proceeds to tell the story of how he went up against Maleficent and Ruby eventually makes her way over to take their order. He laughs exaggeratedly and smiles brightly during this epic tale all the while stealing glances at Snow noting the puzzlement and slight tinge of jealousy in her eyes.

Oh yes, this was definitely a One Up.

Sorry that was short but hey... I wanted to try and give a little more here because I appreciate the comments and follows I got. Thanks. Hope I didn't ruin it for ya. :)