Princess

Emma's birthday was getting closer by the day and the family really wanted to celebrate her birthday the right way this year. It was long overdue. Emma went to Granny's with Killian so this was a good time to plan. It was going to be hard to keep this from Emma because of her "superpower" and all but let's be honest, that fails more often than it works. If they could keep her from getting suspicious they should be fine.

Snow and David wanted to have a coronation ball for Emma, it's a rite of passage for a princess. They knew Emma wasn't totally into these things but they felt she would appreciate it nonetheless.

"Six years ago, I found my mom alone on her birthday and I brought her to her family. I'm glad we really get to celebrate together and give her what she deserves now." Henry said.

"So do I." Snow said as she hugged Henry.

"So we only have a few days to pull this off. We know what we have to do?" David asked.

"Yes. Operation Cygnus is on." Henry said before they heard the door close.

"We're back!" Emma yelled out.

"We'll put the plans away. Watch your uncle." David said before he and Snow ran off with the lists and details.

Henry got down on the floor to play with Neal then Emma and Killian walked in.

"Hey kid. Where's mom and dad?"

"They ran upstairs. They'll be right back." Henry stated.

The doorbell rang. Emma answered to find someone she'd never seen before. That happens practically never in Storybrooke. It was a gorgeous Arabian man with a head of hair to die for with a stunningly beautiful toddler, she assumed to be his daughter.

"Can I help you?" Emma asked the stranger hesitantly.

"Yes. I'm looking for Snow White. Grumpy led me in this direction, said this was where she lived."

"Yeah... And you are?" Emma inquired.

"Sorry. I'm Aladdin and this is my daughter, Kamille."

"A-A-Aladdin? As in Jasmine and Aladdin? A whole new world, the flying carpet and the whole bit." Aladdin looked confused. "Of course you are, why do I still get surprised at these things? Mom! Aladdin's at the door. Come in. I'm Emma." Emma invited them into the living room. "This is my son, Henry, my boyfriend Killian and my little brother Neal."

"Aladdin. Cool." Henry said.

"Am I missing something?" Aladdin asked.

"There are these moving picture stories about us that are half lies and yours happens to be one of the princess and the boy's favorites." Killian explained.

"And I'm not really into the whole fairy tale thing, ironically so believe me it's a compliment and the moving picture stories are called movies." Emma explained.

"Movie?" Aladdin questioned.

"This world's version of magic from my understanding, like this talking device." Killian held up a cell phone.

"How strange." Aladdin said.

"Tell me about it." Killian concurred.

"It's called a phone!" Henry and Emma exclaimed. After all these years, you'd think he'd get the name right.

Kamille reached to play with Neal so Aladdin let her down. Moments later, Snow and David entered the room.

"I thought I misunderstood but clearly I didn't. Aladdin! It's been too long." Snow hugged him. "This is my husband David." David and Aladdin shook hands.

"I'm curious to know how Snow White and Aladdin know each other." Emma said.

"We met in my bandit days. He taught me everything I know about stealing. Thanks to Red, the Dwarves and Aladdin, I was able to survive beyond the castle walls. A princess running around in the forest could be dangerous but thanks to them I made it. So Aladdin, you weren't cursed with us, were you? What brings you here?"

"Jasmine, my wife. She's been taken by Jafar to Wonderland while we were cast here. You're my friend, maybe you can help me figure out how to get her back?"

"Sure. Well there's Regina, Jefferson and Will. One of the three should be able to help." Snow said.

"Regina as in your evil step-mother?" Aladdin asked.

"Yeah but she's changed. We're a family again. It's fine."

"The one that was always trying to kill you?"

"Yes. Water under the bridge."

"How very inspiring. So Will's here as well?"

"How do you know Will?" Killian asked.

"It was before I met Snow..." Aladdin started.

-v-

Enchanted Forest a long time ago...

Aladdin was a young orphaned teenager just trying to find his next meal. He found a spot in the woods to eat his stolen bread and apples. It was all he could manage to take at the time but he liked to only steal what he needed. He was pretty thin, you never want to see a child live like this and that's what Robin Hood thought as he passed by with his Merry Men. They all stopped at Robin's command. He went over to check on the fragile young man. Aladdin sadly explained the situation to Robin and Robin being Robin took the boy in. For once Aladdin felt like he had a family and he became a much better thief, taught him everything he knew and built him up to be stronger physically and mentally. At the time, Will was a Merry Man too, that's how they knew each other. One day, Aladdin got separated from the group, unfortunately, he never found them again but then he met Snow White.

-v-

Present Day, Storybrooke...

"You never told me that." Snow said.

"Robin's here too and we know where he is." Emma informed.

"Really?" Aladdin was enthused.

"Yeah. He's married to my step-mother." Snow said.

"Things have certainly changed..."

"How did you leave the Enchanted Forest before?" David inquired.

"Honestly, I fell in a hole. Poof, I was in Agrabah."

"I don't think you're going to find any of those here so we better get to my mom's." Henry said. Aladdin looked confused again because clearly Emma was his mother. "I'll explain on the way."

"And I'll come with." Snow said.

"Me too!" Emma added.

David agreed to watch Kamille until they came back. She seemed to be having a good time with Neal.

"Now that we're alone, I want to speak to you of a very important matter." Killian said.

David couldn't imagine what that was but okay. He just nodded.

"I'm asking your blessing to ask Emma's hand in marriage." Killian sincerely but charmingly asked.

David just looked at Killian for a moment. "You make my daughter happy and that's most important. She loves you and it's clear you love her so..." Deep breath "Yes. Of course."

"Thanks. I appreciate that. I won't break her heart. I suppose if I did, I'd have two hooks for hands."

"That's a strong possibility."

"Good thing I don't have to worry about that, dad."

"You're older than me."

"Right. I suppose that's quite strange. Too much?"

"Just a bit."

"I'll propose on her birthday at the ball."

-v-

Snow, Emma, Henry and Aladdin arrived at Regina's. Aladdin and Robin couldn't have been happier to see each other.

"It's great seeing you." Robin said.

"And I, you. You were kind of like the first father figure I've never had." Aladdin said.

"That means a lot."

"I really wanted to see you but also, I need to get back to my wife. She's been taken to Wonderland by Jafar. I have to save her and get back to Agrabah."

"Yeah. You don't want to mess with Jafar. A man obsessed with power is the worst kind. Why does he want your wife?" Regina asked.

"It's a twisted obsession. Do you think you can help me?" Aladdin asked.

"It won't be easy but it can be done." Regina stated.

"What about Jefferson?" Henry asked.

"Two would go through, two would come back which means in order to bring his wife back he'd have to go alone and if he went alone he wouldn't have magic and he'll need it because Jafar won't make it easy." Regina explained.

"Will and the rabbit? He found his way back here right?" Emma asked.

"Yeah and he's been trying to get that rabbit again for the past two years." Regina said.

"So what are the options?" Aladdin asked.

"I've never tried it before but maybe my magic is strong enough to open a portal, or Regina and I together can do it." Emma suggested.

"I don't know but even if it works, he can't go alone and you don't know anything about Jafar." Regina said.

"Then I guess we all have to go." Emma said.

"We can't just up and leave for however long." Regina replied.

"Should it really take more than a day?" Emma asked.

"Since when are you so Gung-ho for these 'adventures?'" Regina asked.

"I've gotten used to it, I guess. Come on. Jasmine has to be with Aladdin. It's like Snow White not being with Prince Charming. It just doesn't work. It doesn't make sense. You may as well forget all about hope and happy endings." Emma ranted.

"Not really into fairy tales, huh?" Henry questioned.

"Perhaps they've grown on me a bit."

"Understatement." Snow said.

"Okay, let's do it and let's make it fast." Regina said.

"My daughter." Aladdin said. We'll watch her until you get back." Snow offered.

After a sweet goodbye between Aladdin and Kamille, Emma and Regina worked together to try and open a portal and it took all their concentration and energy but it worked. A lot of the power came from the belief that they could do it. As quiet as it's kept, this opens up a whole other realm of possibilities, no pun intended.

They walked through the portal and there they were in Wonderland.

"Weird. This is even crazier than the movie and that was animated. And I thought the Enchanted Forest and Neverland were weird." Emma was amazed.

"So is Jafar holding Jasmine at his lair?" Regina asked.

"Yes, hopefully he didn't put a spell on her to make her think she's in love with him." Aladdin said with disgust.

"This won't be rainbows and butterflies so follow my lead and no one will get hurt." Regina said.

Regina walked into Jafar's lair like she owned the place.

"Queen Regina, what brings you here? Don't tell me you're helping the rat." Jafar said.

Jasmine was up in a giant bird cage when she called for Aladdin as her eyes glistened with love.

Before Jafar had a chance to move, Regina held him off with her magic. "Whatever you're planning to do, I suggest you do it now." She said.

Aladdin pulled out the carpet and flew over to her. Emma so badly wanted to see that. It's so much cooler and real life.

"Emma, can you open this?" Aladdin asked.

Emma magically unlocked the cage and Aladdin held his hand out for Jasmine. She didn't want to fall.

"Do you trust me?" Aladdin asked. That was their 'I'll always find you.'

"Always." Jasmine took the leap of faith. Aladdin caught her and she landed on the carpet, they shared a long desired kiss.

"Come on, I can't keep this up." Regina pointed out as she continued to hold off Jafar.

Aladdin flew by and picked up Emma and Regina threw Jafar across the room just to buy enough time to fly out.

"Jafar's a scary dude." Emma said.

"And to think, underneath it all, he's just a little boy with daddy issues." Jasmine shook her head.

They got far away from Jafar then landed.

"Thank you!" Aladdin said as he hugged Jasmine.

"Happy to do it." Emma said.

"Are you ready?" Regina asked. They worked together to open the portal again then it wasn't long before they were back in Regina's house.

"Where's Kamille?" Jasmine inquired.

"She's with my friend Snow, she's fine."

"How do you plan to keep Jafar from coming after you again?" Regina asked.

Crickets. They didn't know.

"What about that spell that wouldn't allow you to use magic on my parents or whatever it was. You know I didn't exactly study my history book." Emma suggested.

"You would have to use that directly on Jafar in their world. You don't need to study the history book but I need you study the spell book." Regina said.

"Can't we put like a dark magic shield on them or something?" Emma asked.

"If that were possible, everyone here would have done that a long time ago." Regina said.

"Well what are your suggestions grandma?" Emma questioned, kind of sarcastically joking. She laugh.

"You're not funny... In the meantime, I'll think about it." Regina said.

Jasmine, Aladdin and Kamille were going to stay for a couple days with the Charmings. They filled them in on the surprise for Emma. They thought it'd be nice if they could come.

Meanwhile, Emma introduced Jasmine to cheeseburger at Granny's.

"Wow. So strange but yet so delicious." Jasmine said.

"Surprisingly, that's the same reaction I had when I ate turducken." Emma said.

"You have a wonderful family and wonderful... Captain. He's a good man. I can see that. I wasn't allowed to marry anyone who wasn't a prince and I had to be married by my eighteenth birthday. I was fortunate to be able to find love exactly where I was forbidden to. Lucky for you, you don't have to rush or find someone based off some stupid rules."

"You and Aladdin, you remind me a lot of my parents, the real story, not movie version." Emma laughed. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before. It's so powerful, so strong. I guess that's why I root so hard for you."

"Are you rooting as hard for yourself?"

"I'm not so great at expressing myself, lost girl syndrome I guess but I've gotten a whole lot better. I'm the girl that didn't believe in fairy tales then suddenly, I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming and have my own true love story with Captain Hook. My mom has been trying to get her hopefulness to rub off on me since I met her and I think it's finally working. The belief in happy endings is a very powerful thing. It is. I believe in true love. I believe in happy endings. I believe now."

They smiled.

-v-

A couple days later, it was Emma's birthday, finally. Snow woke her.

"Wake up! It's coronation day!" Snow exclaimed, way too perky for it to be this early.

"Coro- what?" Emma questioned as she sat up.

"Happy birthday sweetie."

"Thanks mom. I love you." Emma hugged her mother. "Now sleep."

"No, no, no. It's a big day. We need to celebrate birthdays in this family, especially yours. We have a big day planned for you."

"Really?"

"Absolutely and here's your first gift." Snow pulled out her tiara. "I know the whole princess thing isn't a big deal to you but your grandmother Eva gave this to me on my tenth birthday and her mother gave it to her and so on. Now I'm giving it to you. I only wish I could have given it to you sooner."

"Thanks. I love it." Snow put the tiara on Emma's head then they hugged. "Princess Emma."

"So what is planned for today?" Emma asked.

"A ball."

"Seriously?"

"So serious."

"I don't have a dress."

"We've got you covered."

"Killian's supposed to take me out today."

"Yeah, to the ball. He had to throw you off from what we were planning all along."

They shared a smile.

-v-

Later... Emma was in her room waiting to get dressed for the ball. Finally Snow and Regina came in.

"So where's the dress and who's going to do my hair and..."

Regina waved her hand and a swirl of purple surrounded Emma for a moment then she stood in a royal blue ball gown, sparkling diamond earrings and necklace and shoes, her hair in an up-do and makeup flawless.

"You look so beautiful. I'm not going to cry. I'm really not." Snow fanned her eyes, trying not to cry.

Emma looked into the mirror. She's not particularly a dress girl, definitely not a ball gown girl and this was the second time she's worn one. She didn't even get to go to her prom but she had to admit this gown was stunning. It was an off the shoulders pink sweetheart dress, the sleeves flared out at the elbows and there was silver embroidery on the corset and along the bottom.

"Wow. I'm not usually into pink but… wow." Emma said.

"I have good taste right." Regina smiled.

"What are you two going to wear?" Emma asked.

Regina waved her hands and the swirl of purple surrounded them. A moment later, Snow was wearing a strapless pale gold ball gown. Her hair was longer like it was in the Enchanted Forest and curled but half pinned up.

"You changed my hair?" Snow said.

"Well it had it to go with the dress." Regina said.

Regina was in a light blue ball gown that flared out to accommodate her growing belly. Her hair was pulled back and flowing with curls.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in that color in forever." Snow said to Regina.

"You haven't but it's my favorite color and I missed it." Regina replied.

"Really?" Emma was surprised. She always thought her favorite color was black or even red, or purple or dark blue. Something dark.

"This is nice, getting ready for the ball together. None of us grew up with a really strong family or much of one at all and I'm glad we can have that with each other now. All of us." Snow looked at Regina on that last part. "Regina, I just want you to know… that I love you and I honestly always have and I always will. I told you once, a really long time ago that you taught me there can be this genuine selfless connection between two people, even strangers. Infinite forest aside, I really still believe that. So you're partly responsible for those hope speeches you were so annoyed by." There was a moment of silence. It was a little awkward but then the unexpected happened. Regina leaned in and hugged Snow and they held onto this hug.

"I love you too, Snow." Regina replied. Snow didn't say it to hear it back, she just wanted her to know how she truly felt but the fact that she did hear it back, had her eyes balling. Emma sat down, she was the one trying not to cry now. Snow and Regina finally let go of this hug. "I was afraid to be happy, afraid to be loved and I was blinded and allowed myself to be manipulated and became exactly who I never wanted to be. Anyway, without getting into the why's and whatever, I just want to say, I'm sorry for torturing you and everyone else for as long as I did. Veils off, it really wasn't your fault. I can see that now-" Even Regina started to tear up.

"I shouldn't have told your secret."

"You were ten as it's repeatedly been pointed out to me. I get it. My mother has manipulated me many of times so I'm sure it's not hard to manipulate a vulnerable child."

"I swear I just wanted you to be happy."

"And now I am."

"This is just so beautiful." Emma said, trying really hard not to mess up her make up. They went over to Emma.

"Come on now." Regina said and wiped the tears from her own eyes.

"It's your birthday, you can't cry on your birthday." Snow said, wiping Emma's tears.

"You started it." Emma said. They laughed and got some tissues. "It's literally a whole new world and we can't go back to the way we used to be." They laughed, lightening the moment.

"Let's get it together, your Captain awaits." Snow said.

-v-

Once they pulled themselves back together, they went downstairs where Grace, Henry, Robin, David and Killian awaited. Regina went first, followed by Snow then Emma. The men were in awe. David, Henry and Killian's hearts stopped when they saw Emma. Henry couldn't believe these were his moms and grandma. He's only ever seen them like this is in drawings in the book. David didn't think he'd ever see this day. This was his baby and she's not a baby. Killian just knew his princess was the most beautiful woman in all the realms and he loved her so dearly.

Everyone was having a good time in the ballroom. It was reminiscent of their lives before Storybrooke. They missed it. They don't miss not having electricity though. That was a perk in this world.

So of course they had to be announced when they walked into the ballroom. The one announcing everyone decided to do things the old fashioned way, reminiscent to the occasion and the feel.

"Prince Henry and Miss Grace..." They were announced and walked in. Henry was loving this. It was like being in the Enchanted Forest, sort of. Grace never thought she'd ever attend such an occasion. "Prince David, better known as Prince Charming and Princess Snow White." They walked out. This was the fun part about being the prince and princess. "King Robin and Queen Regina." In that moment, Robin realized that he is technically the King, or at least he would be if they were back home in their world. "And now our guest of honor, our savior, who we all love and appreciate and owe our lives to twice over..."

"Wow, he's really building me up a lot. Kind of awkward." Emma said to Killian.

"Enjoy love. You deserve it." Killian responded.

"Captain Killian and Princess Emma."

Everyone applauded.

"So this is what it would've been like growing up, you know, if everyone got along." Emma thought.

It was time for the first dance which was wonderful, then they switched partners. Father daughter dance!

"I've had dreams about this, literally. Usually, in your nursery. You're beautiful." David's eyes glistened with pride.

"Thanks daddy." She never called him daddy but she was just so immersed in the moment and occasion that every wall that was ever up was down and she could just allow herself to be that little girl who couldn't go to the prom or never thought she'd have a father daughter dance. That little girl who craved for a family but now was surrounded by family and friends and she could feel all the love and see what her life could have been. That part could've made her sad but instead it made her that much more grateful. There was a time she felt she had nothing and now she had everything. This was everything.

The night was wonderful as it was but now was the moment. Emma was certainly front and center. She didn't know what was going on but Killian approached her and got down on one knee. Her eyes widened.

"Swan, princess, love, I have never been happier in my very long life than I have been the past three years I've been with you and I never want to spend another moment in my life without you. I want to see those big blue eyes and that smile every day. I love you. Will you marry me?" Killian presented Emma with a ring which she knew to be her mother's ring, which was also her grandmother's ring.

"Yes." Emma replied in a breathy tone. Eyes full of tears. This has been a very emotional day.

Killian put the ring on her finger and they hugged and kissed. Everyone cheered. She couldn't believe everyone was able to keep all these secrets from her but the surprises were wonderful. Everything she thought she'd never be into was something she totally enjoyed. This was probably the best day of her life.

The family hugged and congratulated her.

"Did you enjoy your birthday?" Snow asked.

"Best birthday ever." Emma was still wiping the happy tears away.

Suddenly, they heard a loud rumbling noise. That didn't sound good, didn't sound good at all.