The Wooden Swan Cuckoo Clock

By Schroederplayspiano

Six am: You Keep Passing Me By

Anna's screams propel me out of bed. I have been awake for hours, though, trying to go back to sleep since the last time my daughter woke me up, but knew quickly my attempt would be pointless.

I walk over to Anna's crib, lift her up in my arms, and kiss her hair. Thankfully, that's enough to quiet her down. I can't help but smile anytime she's asleep in my arms. The feeling of holding my baby daughter is unmatched, even here, in newly rediscovered Fairytale Land.

Deciding hours ago that I wouldn't be going back to sleep, my sleepy eyes find a rocking chair in the corner of the bedroom. Anna shifts in her sleep when I lean back against the cushioned chair, adjusting her soft hold on me.

The morning's first light breaks through the window. The rays beam past the bed, illuminating August's sleeping figure. He becomes more innocent when he sleeps, less hot and more adorable – at least, that's what I like to think.

August turns over unconsciously. I redirect my attention back to our daughter, enjoying the early morning peace. I smile for a different reason when I lightly push off the floor, giving the rocker a little more power. It's the same reason I couldn't drift back to sleep hours ago.

I have been waiting for today for four days. Four days might seem like nothing. Before coming to Storybrooke, before learning I was the offspring of the most famous couple in the world; four days went by like a blink of an eye. But now, all I can do is count the seconds until I can see him again.

A wooden swan loudly comes out of Mom's carved wood castle marking the time as six thirty. As the swan spreads its wings over the kingdom, protecting it, a puppet chases a girl around the castle, trying to catch her in his arms, but never does. The beautiful cuckoo clock was a present from Geppetto on my twenty-ninth birthday. I have kept it on my bedside table ever since.

The swan's obnoxious noise forces August awake. I hear him padding the bed, trying to feel for me, before flipping over to spot his daughter and me on the rocking chair.

He smiles warmly, keeping his head on his pillow, watching us. For a moment, I meet his gaze and smile before leaning my head closer to Anna.

With a sleepy voice, August informs me, "You know if the baby is sleeping, the mother should be too."

I smile and look back at him. "I couldn't sleep."

"Huh," He lets out before standing from the bed to kiss his daughter's head. I wish he would give me a kiss as well, but he is inches away from me before I can even lean into him. "I wonder why," August comments sarcastically.

I sigh after his comment. I know he says his words teasingly, but I hear their edgy undertone. Four years have passed since we first argued over this topic. It makes me sad; even now, that we can't completely move pass the hurt it has caused both of us.

"I can't help it." I move my index finger under Anna's whole fist. "I miss him."

"I know you do," he whispers. Careful not to wake Anna, August opens his dresser slowly, and starts choosing his clothes for the day. "But after all this time, I'd hope it wouldn't affect you so much."

"How could it not affect me, Pinocchio?" I say harshly. "I will never have him to myself. I will always have to share him with somebody else."

"That's what parenting is, Emma." The drawer shuts loudly, causing Anna to start crying again. "Sharing your kids with somebody else."

How can he, out of all people, lecture me about being selfish? He is Pinocchio, traditionally the most selfish fairytale character of them all.

I shoot August an annoyed glance as I try to calm Anna down. Instead of helping me, he turns his back. I watch him button his shirt and pull on his pants, as I softly bounce Anna in my arms.

When he turns, completely dressed, his expression has changed. I know he's sorry by the remorseful look on his face. Still he says, "Sorry," and reaches out to take his daughter in his arms.

After a moment's hesitation, I give Anna to him, and she quickly adjusts to her father's touch. August tries to reach out to me, but I walk past him, eyeing the closet.

My fingers glide along the dresses' fabric. It is harder than usual to choose one to wear today. I turn back to the opposite side of the room, to my dresser, wondering if I can walk down to court for breakfast in jeans.

Probably not.

"Wear the green one." August says lovingly. I look at him when I hear his tone. "It's simple, yet elegant. You said it's the most comfortable. Plus, you look beautiful in it, it brings out your eyes."

I can't help the smile creeping onto my face. I don't know if he's still regretful about snapping at me a minute ago or if he's just trying to save me from the stress of picking out a dress, but either way it's nice.

I take the green dress from the closet and place it on the bed. My smile is still on my face when I say, "I didn't think you were listening."

His soft expression reaches out to me. "Of course I was." I take off my nightgown in silence and I know he's watching me closely. "It's hard not to remember how much you love that dress, especially since you complain about all the others."

The dress is untied when I playfully charge at him. August steps back with Anna as I come closer. August laughs when softly hit his shoulder. "Whoa. Okay. Maybe we can save the rough play when I don't have our daughter in my arms."

I love when he calls Anna our daughter.

"The dresses aren't that bad."

August overacts, searching the room for something or someone who isn't in the room.

I finally concede. "What?" I ask, annoyed.

"You know, I don't think your mom is here." He says. I roll my eyes and go back to dressing. "Which means you don't have to suck up and lie, saying you love all the dresses she made for you."

I finish tying my dress, wrapping the ribbon from the front to the back. "I don't lie. They're all beautiful dresses. She knows I don't love to wear them. It's only a requirement at court. After all this time here, they've grown on me."

August kisses my cheek, which surprises me, I didn't know he was that close. Our noses touch when I turn to him.

He looks at me deeply, causing my eyebrows to furrow. What's going on?

Running his free hand through strands of my hair, he says, "Many things have grown on you." I blush at his words, his intense glare, and the meaning behind them. "You're the one who makes the dresses beautiful."

I smile at him, my blush conveying my gratitude. August smiles back quickly before returning his full attention to Anna, bouncing her lighting in his arms.

The mirror calls to me when a tangle in my hair falls in front of my shoulder. As I am brushing it out, I spot the cuckoo clock in the mirror.

6:45.

I can't help blurting out my thoughts. "If he's not here in fifteen minutes, I'm going out to find him."

"He'll be here," August says simply. "Belle always brings him on time."

That's true. She does. I'm grateful she does me the favor of walking him over, since she's the only member of their family welcomed at court.

The court rules are only an added bonus, making my run ins with Baelfire less frequent.

"So," August walks closer to me. "Shall we?"

I don't want to go to breakfast. Not yet. I look back at the cuckoo clock.

6:46.

"Can't we wait?" My facial features plead with him.

"Emma," he starts half jokingly, half seriously. "We've started breakfast without him before. He doesn't mind. Bae gives him a morning snack before the journey anyways."

"Sometimes." I correct August. "Bae sometimes gives him a snack. Not all the time."

"He's fifteen years old. I'm pretty sure he can ask for food if he wants some. Or make some himself."

"I know how old my kid is." I walk over to take Anna from him. A smile automatically forms on my face when she's in my arms. I look down at her beautiful blue eyes, which are now intrigued with the sleeve of my dress. I look around the room, and then examine myself in the mirror. With nothing left to do, I finally announce, "Let's go."

Anna is quiet in the hallway, making our walk much more enjoyable. Between the cobblestones and the high ceiling, her cries can give me a headache before I've even started my day.

"Anna!" Dad's voice echoes in the hallway as we approach the dining room. When he sees us, he starts jogging towards us.

I turn to August. Our eyes meet and I know he knows what I'm thinking. Still, I whisper it anyway. "No 'hi Emma' or 'good morning.'" August smiles. "No, it's all about the baby."

When Dad reaches us, he pulls Anna from my arms without asking. Sometimes his habit annoys me, other times I think it's sweet.

"Good morning, Dad."

Dad lifts his gaze from Anna to me. He smiles, "Good morning, sweetie." He kisses my cheek. "Breakfast is on the table."

"Great." August says. He shoots one more look at Anna, making sure she's safe in Dad's arms. Before entering the dining room, he kisses my cheek.

I don't follow him though. Instead, I stay in the hall with my daughter looking out one of the large hall windows.

"He'll be here soon, Emma." Dad says.

I smile slightly. "Reading my mind already this morning?"

Dad steps closer to me. A sad smile appears on his face as we make eye contact. "No. I just know the agony of not knowing if your kid is safe."

My fingers taps on the window ceil. I turn from Dad to look outside. When I don't see anything I fling a pebble that was sitting on the edge of the window out.

"I never should have made that deal."

"Emma," Dad begs me to calm down. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't know what you were getting into. You didn't know who he was. You were doing it to save Alexandra and Cinderella. How could you have possibly known or guessed he would take Henry from you?"

"I don't know." I look back at him. "But I should have."

"You're the savior." Dad reminds me softly. "Not some omniscient god."

For some reason, his words fill me with sadness.

He must see the frown on my face, because he pulls me closer to him. "Oh my love." He kisses my hair. "It's not that bad. I promise you."

"You promise me?"

"Yes." Dad says confidently. "I promise you."

And then I hear the kingdom's clock tower ring out.

Seven o'clock.

"Henry?" I look up and down the hall. "Henry?"

August hears my worried voice. He's out in the hall by time I call Henry's name the third time.

He's running down the hall, to the palace's entrance before I am. I run as quickly as I can in my dress to catch up with him.

Grumpy opens the palace doors as soon as he sees us. Together, we run outside to search for my kid.

"Mom!"

Relief flows over me when I see him. He's safe. He's okay. He's smiling.

"Kid!"

We run to each other and meet in the middle of the courtyard. Our arms wrap around each other simultaneously.

I spot Belle as I hold Henry to me. She stands at the courtyard's entrance, and doesn't take a step further. I smile at her in gratitude and Belle puts her palm up with a smile in response.

And then she's gone.

I pull back to look at him. My fingers caress his cheeks. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." Henry smiles. "I'm fine."

I smile, brushing the hair off his forehead.

And that's when I see it.

The cut near his eyebrow.

A/N: Thanks for all the positive responses - including favorites and follows! They mean so much, really. I wonder what time period/POV will be next ;)!