Chapter Three: Scared

Emma's eyes adjusted and she saw a very shocked David standing in front of her. She suddenly felt guilt fill her.

"I…I'm sorry," she jumped up out of bed.

"Sweetie, it's okay, I was just trying to wake you up."

"I…I thought…" Tears welled up in her eyes. She felt so stupid, who else would it have been?

David gave her a soft smile. "Can I give you a hug?" She slowly nodded and he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly, cupping the back of her head as he did. It felt so nice, she hadn't ever had a hug like this. She hugged him back. "I know you've been through a lot, but I would never hurt you like that.

She nodded again, the tears falling down her face. Why was he being so nice? She had just screamed at him.

"Come on, let's go get something to eat."

She slowly walked downstairs with him, heading into the kitchen. Mary had set the table up to look very pretty, with a vase of fresh flowers sitting on the table. The brunette saw her foster daughter's tear stained face and went to say something, when her husband gave her a Look telling her not to push it. So she just put on a smile.

"Are you hungry?"

"Kinda." She sat down in front of one of the place settings, Mary and David sitting on either side of her. At the group home they all ate dinner together but this already felt different. She slowly began eating. "This is very good."

"Thank you, sweets," she said. "So, how was your nap?"

She gnawed on her lip. She had ended up having that dream again, the one about her biological father. She had lied to her psychologist when she was eight that the dream had stopped occurring. It hadn't ever really helped, she worked for the state and basically told her to suck it up.

"It was fine." She took a sip of the milk in front of her, she couldn't remember the last time she had milk.

"Would you maybe want to watch a movie after we eat?" Mary asked.

"A movie?"

"Mary is obsessed with movies," David told her with a smile. "We must have a thousand DVDs."

"I am not that bad," she protested with a pout, causing the blonde to grin wider and lean across their foster daughter to peck her lips.

They seem so in love, Emma thought to herself. If her foster parents were married, they didn't seem too happy. Her own biological parents had a shitty relationship. Her dad would beat her mom in front of her and her mom was constantly cheating. The little girl only knew that when she walked in on her mom and one of her "clients".

"I guess a movie would be okay."

"Do you have a favorite movie?" Mary asked.

"Not really." She saw their shocked expressions. "I uh, guess I like the Sorcerer and the Stone."

"I think we have that one," David told her.

Once she was done, she gathered up her plates and out of habit, grabbed the other dishes as well. She headed to the sink and started to clean them off, when she heard a voice behind her.

"Don't worry about that hon, we have a dishwasher." She turned around to find Mary standing there. The woman touched her face. "How about that movie, huh?" Emma nodded and followed her out into the living room. She settled down onto the couch and her foster mother found the movie, slipping it in. She settled next to Emma and smiled at her.

After they went through all the commercials, David walked in, holding three mugs of hot chocolate. Emma noticed cinnamon sticks coming out of each of them.

"Is that cinnamon?"

"It's a family tradition of mine," he explained, handing it to her. "You'll have to tell me if you like it."

The blonde girl took a sip and smiled. It was so delicious, probably the best cup of hot chocolate ever. "It's great."

"I'm glad," he sat down beside Mary and the movie began.

The three of them watched it in silence, drinking their hot chocolate. Eventually, Emma felt her eyes starting to close. Even with her nap, it had been a really long day. She felt so overwhelmed by the events of the day. They were so nice to her and had been so generous. How could these people be so kind when they barely knew her?

Not long after, she heard David calling her name. Her eyes flickered open.

"I was just resting my eyes," she muttered, half-defensively.

He chuckled. "Alright sweetie, why don't you go get your pajamas on and head to bed."

"Okay." She stood up, not really sure what to do to say goodnight. She decided to take the initiative and hug Mary. "Thanks for everything."

"You're very welcome sweets," she kissed her cheek and Emma turned to David, giving him a small hug as well. She couldn't help but notice that he was cradling her head again. She didn't mind it.

She headed upstairs and changed into a pair of pink flannel pajamas that Mary had picked out for her. She climbed under the covers and looked around the room. She had spent many a night in a new place and it was always very scary. She just hugged her baby blanket tight and clamped her eyes shut, hoping she could soon fall asleep.


Mary shut the dishwasher and leaned against it, thinking about the events of the day. David walked over and wrapped his arms around her.

"What's on your mind?" He whispered.

"Emma. I just want her to be happy."

"I know, it was her first day, probably overwhelming."

"Why was she screaming earlier?"

He sighed. "I went to wake her up and she screamed. I think she thought I was someone else."

"Who else…oh." She bit her lip. "I just want to hug her so tight and never let go. Did you see that look in her eyes?"

David knew what his wife was referring to. She often looked so lost, so out of place. "It'll probably take her time. I can tell she wants to trust us, she willingly hugged me and you."

"I noticed you cradling her head, that was so sweet."

"I just couldn't help it, she's like an angel."

Mary gave him a soft smile. "Our angel."

"I know she's not what we pictured…"

"She's more." She then started to laugh. "I meant to tell you, she wants to know what rules she's going to have."

"Rules?"

"Yeah and chores."

"I've never known a kid willingly ask about that kind of stuff."

"I think she just wants to stay out of trouble. She seemed a little freaked out when I told her you were the sheriff." Her husband frowned. "I explained there was nothing to be afraid of, though."

He remembered to his days growing up on a farm, the kids weren't exactly nice about that. "I hope the kids don't give her a hard time for it."

"If anything they might since I'm a teacher."

"At least not for her grade."

"I admit…I'm a little happy I'll be at her school for now. If she needs me, I'll be there."

"It'll be good for her to have a friendly face, for sure."

The two finished cleaning up and then headed upstairs. Emma's door was opened half-way, so they gently nudged it open. She was curled up in her bed, clinging to her baby blanket. She looked so little, so innocent.

"She's ours," Mary whispered.

"I know." David took her hands. "We have to wait before we ask her, but I don't want to."

His wife softly giggled. "Now who's rushing things."

"It just…it feels right, you know? Like she was put on this Earth to be our daughter."


The next few days were spent showing Emma around Storybrooke some more. They introduced her to a few of their friends and made a couple more trips to Granny's. She seemed to be getting slowly more comfortable around them. She found that she loved it when Mary called her "Sweets" and when David cradled her head when he hugged her. Still… a part of her was sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Sunday night, David was at work, so Mary and Emma were on their own for dinner. They grabbed a bite to eat at Granny's and then went home to pick out an outfit for Emma to wear on her first day of school. Not her idea, but she had to admit it was a little fun.

"What do the kids wear?" She asked as they sorted through the options. It was early fall, so she wouldn't be too far behind, but she knew that most of these kids had been going to school together since kindergarten.

"There's not really a set style. You definitely want to wear your jacket, right?"

Emma nodded. "Definitely."

"How about this?" She held up a white dress, nothing too fancy and it had short sleeves. She saw the blonde make a face. "No?"

"I rarely wear dresses anyway."

"Well, how about jeans and this top?" She held up a blue top with subtle bedazzling. Emma nodded. "Alright, great." Mary laid the clothes out and walked to the window. "It's coming down hard out there."

Emma hadn't noticed the rain, so she joined her by the window. "I guess it is. I'm gonna take a shower and then we can watch that movie?"

"Sounds good to me."

Emma went into the bathroom and started her shower. About halfway through, she heard thunder. Of course it was after she had just put shampoo in her hair. She was just getting the last of it out when the lights flickered out. She let out a scream and nearly fell, but caught herself on the soap dish. She turned off the water and carefully stepped out of the tub, she felt around for her towel and started to dry herself off. There was a knock at the door.

"Sweets, you okay?"

"Y…yeah."

"It's alright, it's just because of a storm. Just get change and we'll go into my room. I have flashlights."

She quickly dressed and then grabbed her brush, she could fix her hair later. She walked out of the bathroom and Mary put an arm around her, handing her a flashlight. The two slowly walked across the hall and into the master. Emma had yet to be in their room and from the dim lighting from the flashlights, she thought it was very nice, cozy. She sat on the bed beside Mary, who gave her a smile.

"Well, we could watch a movie on my laptop if you'd like."

"Sure."

Mary spotted the brush in her hand. "I could brush your hair if you'd like, maybe braid it for you?"

Emma smiled a little. "I,,.I'd like that. No one's ever done my hair before."

"Well this is a great place to start." She had Emma sit in front of her and began to brush the damp ringlets. "You have such beautiful hair."

The blonde blushed. "Thank you. I like yours too," she replied, commenting on Mary's bob.

"It's an easy look, but I always wanted curls," she laughed. "I used to want to be a blonde too, actually."

"We really don't have more fun."

"Oh, really?"

"Really." Emma looked down at her fingers. "You're really pretty, though."

"Thank you sweets, so are you."

"Do you think…I mean…my black eye…"

"Oh honey, it's gotten a lot better, I don't think anyone will notice."

"But what if they do? Could you cover it with makeup?"

Mary couldn't help but smile. She wanted her to help her with makeup. She knew the motives weren't good ones, but still. "No honey, I don't want to infect it in any way. Plus, I'm not sure how David would feel about you wearing makeup."

"What do you mean?"

"I think he already sees you as his little girl."

"Really?" Emma moved her head, causing Mary to nearly get her in the eye with the brush due to the quick movement.

"Really." She pushed hair out of the young girl's eyes. "Sweetie, we have been waiting for a child for a really long time."

"I didn't know that."

Mary stroked her cheek. "We tried for a few years to have a baby, but it just didn't work out. That's when we decided to foster."

Emma felt her stomach sink. So she was just a second choice?

"But to be honest, when I saw your picture, I felt like it was meant to be…like you were supposed to be my daughter."

Daughter. The word lingered in Emma's head. Her foster mother was saying things she never thought she'd ever hear. They really wanted her.

"It's okay if you don't think of us as your parents, it's all so new. Just know that we really do want you here, Emma. We want to be your family."

"But…why?"

"Why?" Mary looked bewildered in the soft glow of the flashlight.

"I'm thirteen…I'm too old! No one wants kids older than three or four, if that. I just…"

"You just what, honey?"

She sighed. "When I was at a home, not my group home, but a place before that, there was this little girl that got adopted. She was probably four. I saw the way her new parents looked at her, the love they had. I just knew that I would never have that…I'm too old."

"Oh Emma, Emma, Emma…" Mary cupped her face. "My sweet girl, you are not too old, you are still just a little girl. We want you, because from the moment we saw your profile, we knew you were the child we wanted."

"But I'm not little." Tears sprung to her eyes. "I'm in eighth grade, you can't teach me how to walk or talk."

"That doesn't make a child. Yes, you may be a teenager, but you can still be our little girl, our baby. There are still so many things for us to teach you."

Tears fell down Emma's cheeks and Mary wiped them with her thumb, while still cupping her face. "You…you really want me?"

"Oh yes we do sweets, with everything inside of us. I know you've only been here a few days, but we went into this with intent to adopt."

"Adopt? You…you want to adopt me?" Her mind was swimming, all of it was just too overwhelming.

"We don't have to do it now, in fact Helen says you have to be in our care for at least six months before we can file. We want you to get to know us and we want to get to know you, but we want you here with us. We want to be a family."

Emma didn't know what to say or what to do. She wanted a family, so, so badly. She had just met these people and yet, they had acted more like any parent she had ever had, foster or otherwise. She wasn't sure if she could trust them fully, but at the same time, a part of her needed this promise, this commitment, that she was safe. Even if it was just for now.

"Okay," she whispered.

"Okay?" Mary repeated.

"I want to give this a shot…as a family…I can't promise I'll call you Mom and Dad…"

"That's completely fine, sweetheart."

"But you won't send me back?"

"Never. I love you."

"You love me?" Those three words…never before had she heard them.

"Yes, I do."

"No one's ever said that to me before."

Mary felt her heart break. This poor girl, how could she be having all these firsts, at thirteen? "I'm sorry no one has, you are so worthy of love."

Emma nodded, not sure if she believed it, but wrapped her arms around Mary. The woman held her close, planting a kiss to her head. "I…I love you too," she whispered. And a part of her realized, she meant it. She wasn't sure if she had ever loved anyone before, but she hadn't felt this way before.

Tears sprung to Mary's eyes and she held her tighter. "Oh my sweets."

Eventually the two broke apart and Mary finished brushing her hair, soon braiding it. Then she pulled out her laptop and opened up her downloads folder, pulling up The Princess Diaries. Emma had never seen it before, but the storyline drew her in. It was about a girl, Mia Thermopolis who grew up ordinary. Then one day, she found out that she was a princess. She wasn't sure if she wanted the responsibility, but grew to love the grandmother she never had. When it came to the part where Mia had her heartbroken by a jerk, her mother held her and whispered reassuring things in her ear.

Emma wondered if Mary would ever be that for her…and she was surprised when she realized that she really hoped she could be.

David walked into his bedroom a little before ten. He was exhausted and just wanted to collapse into bed. That's when he saw the state of his bed. Mary was laying on her side, watching Emma sleep. He felt a grin go across his face.

"What happened here?"

Mary broke her trance and looked up, matching his smile. "The power was out, so we watched a movie on her laptop."

He sat on the bed and stroked Emma's cheek. She stirred, but didn't wake up.

"I talked with her…I didn't mean for it to become "that talk" and you should probably talk to her too, eventually…but I told her we wanted to adopt her, eventually."

David sighed, he had wanted to be there for that conversation. "Mary…"

"It just sort of came out. We were talking about her and makeup…"

"She's not old enough for makeup!" He exclaimed. Emma whined a little in her sleep, so he lowered his voice. "She's just a little girl."

Mary giggled. "I know, that's what I told her, that you look at her like our little girl. I think she needed to hear it. Do you know that before tonight, no one had ever so much as told her that they loved her?"

David's face fell. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know, but do you see why I had to say it?"

"Yes, of course, of course."

"I know it's moving quickly, but would you change it?"

"Not for anything in the world." He laid a kiss to her lips. "Should we keep her in here?"

"I think so, yes. It's just for tonight."

"Let me go get changed."

He changed into some sweats before settling in on the other side of Emma. Soon, the new family was asleep.

So I know it may seem like things are moving fast, but I have some plans for this family as they try to find their way. Please make sure to review.