A/N: I love that you guys are all enjoying this story! Thanks for the reviews and here is another chapter for your support! :)

Chapter 4

After Emma managed to get dressed in one of David's old t-shirts, that Snow had given to Emma a long time ago to wear when she was sick and in her yoga pants, she was about to call for David when she decided that she could do it herself. She stood up shakily and held on to the counter as she walked to the door. She didn't care that it hurt to walk on her sore feet or aching legs or because she felt dizzy and weak. She wasn't going to ask for help because she could walk by herself.

She opened the door and braced herself against the frame of it before trying to step out into the open space. She wasn't sure where her Dad was, but he wasn't yelling at her yet. She took a step forward and felt herself sway as she felt that familiar wave of dizziness. Oh great. Emma thought as she felt herself falling to the floor and landed in a heap. Maybe I needed help after all.

"Emma!" David called as he rushed down the stairs and over to her. "You were supposed to wait for me!" David added as he knelt beside her and checked her over for any injuries before picking her up in his arms.

"I thought I could do it myself." Emma admitted sheepishly.

"Oh Emma, what am I going to do with you?" David said as he stood up with Emma in his arms.

Emma smiled cheekily. "Just let me do whatever I want. I am a princess you know? Princesses always get what they want, right?"

"Oh really, is that how that works?" David chuckled.

"I think so." Emma stated with a grin.

"Hm well, princess, it's time for you to get back to bed." David said softly as he made his way to the bed and set Emma down. He quickly covered her up with the many blankets before tucking her in.

"Again?" Emma asked.

"What?" David asked, totally clueless to what Emma was referring to.

"You are tucking me in again." Emma stated with a sigh.

"Of course, princesses always get tucked in, didn't you know?" David said with a charming smile.

Emma rolled her eyes, but she was thinking of the many times she didn't even get a 'goodnight' let alone someone to tuck her in and give her a goodnight kiss.

As if he read her mind, David leaned down and kissed her forehead with a knowing look that told her he understood. "Now, do you want to try toast or crackers?"

Emma grimaced. "Toast. I guess."

"Okay, I'll be right back, princess." David said with a wink.

Emma grinned as he walked away, but then snuggled in a little and closed her eyes. Maybe if she fell asleep he wouldn't make her eat it. Wait, if princesses get what they want, I shouldn't have to eat if I don't want to! Yeah that won't work...if only it could work that way...

David made toast and got a glass of water with some cough medicine for Emma before heading over to Emma. Emma was slowly blinking her eyes closed; she was so exhausted. "Emma, here's your toast." David said as he placed the plate and cup on the bedside table. He then helped Emma sit up so she could eat her toast and take her medicine.

"Ugh, Dad, I'm not hungry." Emma groaned.

"I want you to at least try to eat some of it." David said softly as he handed Emma the plate of toast.

Emma took it, but grimaced when she had to grasp it with her sore fingers. She put it on the bed after a moment.

David frowned. "Are your hands sore, sweetie?" David asked.

Emma shrugged. Everything was sore because although she was still cold, her body had started to warm up.

"Hm. Eat your toast." David said before going back to the medicine cabinet.

Emma ate a bite of her toast, but then put it back down, not liking how it made her feel.

"Emma, I want you to take some of this pain reliever with the cough medicine." David said as he came back to Emma.

"Dad. I'm fine. I don't need any medicine." Emma groaned, but then started to have another coughing fit.

David sat on the edge of the bed and helped Emma sit forward before rubbing her back. "You're taking the medicine, young lady." David said firmly after Emma finished coughing.

Emma rolled her eyes.

"Now, eat the rest of your toast." David said.

"I'm done." Emma said.

"You only ate one bite. You need to eat at least half of your piece of toast." David told Emma.

"You just said I had to try and I did try." Emma complained.

"Emma, eat another bite." David commanded.

Emma knew that voice and it wasn't one to ignore so she picked up the toast to take another bite. She took a bite and grimaced when it made her feel a bit nauseous. She put the toast down again and looked at her father with a pleading look.

"I know it doesn't make you feel to well, but you need something in you, Emma. Try another bite. Go on." David said softly.

Emma did as she was told even though she felt nauseous eating it. She took another bite and once again asked her father with her eyes if she could be done.

"Ok, you can be done." David said with a sigh. He could only handle those sad eyes for so long especially when felt responsible for her getting this bad. If they had noticed she was sick a couple of days ago or noticed that she wasn't eating properly, she wouldn't have gotten this sick.

"Can I sleep now?" Emma asked as she gave the plate to her Dad.

"Right after you take your medicine." David said as he handed Emma the medicine and the glass of water.

"I don't need them." Emma grumbled.

"Emma, take them." David said sternly.

"But.." Emma started.

"Now, young lady." David commanded with a stern look.

Emma took them even though she didn't want to, but her father wasn't giving her much of a choice.

David took the cup from Emma once she finished taking her pills and set it on the bedside table. "Ok. Now, you may sleep."

"Finally." Emma said as he started to lay back down and then her Dad fixed the blankets on top of her, tucking her in to keep her as warm as possible.

He felt her forehead, which was warm, but hopefully the medicine would bring her fever down. "Sleep well, princess." David said softly as he kissed Emma's forehead before standing up to take the plate and cup to the kitchen.

Emma closed her eyes to fall asleep, but then she felt the need to have her Dad near her so she opened her eyes. She waited a few minutes expecting him to come back, but he didn't. She tried to just fall asleep, but she was to the point where she was too tired to sleep.

After another 20 minutes, the cough medicine kicked it and it took over Emma to allow her to fall asleep.

David had quickly taken a shower and then sat down on the couch to watch a little bit of TV while Emma slept. He didn't realize how tired he was till he sat down, but he didn't want to fall asleep just yet in case Emma needed him. After he had taken a shower, he had checked on Emma who had fallen asleep and seemed to be sleeping peacefully. He hadn't heard anything from her since then so he figured she was still sleeping and would be for a while, but that didn't mean he felt like he could sleep especially since it was only 6:30 now. He felt like it was so much later.

Emma finds herself in a castle walking down a long hallway. She is about five years old living with her parents who were the King and Queen of the land. Emma's mom had to go to a meeting in another kingdom and her Dad had been busy having council meetings that were a half a days ride away which left her home alone with Johanna taking care of her. Most days she wouldn't see her Dad because he would be busy coming and going. Although, she had asked Johanna many times when her parents would be back, she could never remember what she said.

She really missed her parents and although Johanna was great, she would rather have her mom and dad there instead. So today she decided to get of the house before Johanna woke up. It was getting closer to winter time, but they had had some nice fall days and Emma figured today would be the same. She escaped the castle from the servant's entrance and then snuck past the guards that were on duty to the forest.

She didn't even realize that it was colder than usual when she got into the forest, she was too excited that she got past Johanna, the staff, and the guards. She had never been out alone in the forest until now and it was exciting and liberating. She started walking into the forest thinking she would just explore for a little bit and then turn around and go back. She didn't want to get in trouble so she didn't want Johanna to find out she had been in the forest because then her parents would find out which would cause her to get in big trouble and she didn't want that!

After finding a stream and deciding to play in it, Emma was starting to get cold so she decided to head back. Johanna would be getting up soon and wondering where Emma was.

"When did it get so cold?" Emma asked herself as a chill went down her spine.

After about a half an hour of walking, Emma was no where near the castle and she was beginning to wonder if she was lost. She was freezing in her wet clothes and she was wondering if maybe she shouldn't have come out to the forest when it started to rain.

"This is weird." Emma said as she felt the rain turn into sleet. After a few more minutes, the sleet turned into snow.

"I'm lost and it's snowing. This is just great." Emma said as she started to cry.

Emma kept walking through the forest hoping to find her way back to the castle.

OUAT

"Hey Johanna! Where's my daughter?" David asked as he came into the castle. He had stayed the night since the meeting had gone longer than expected, but had started out early to get back to spend the day with Emma. His meetings were over and Snow would be back in another few days. He wanted to spend sometime with his daughter since for the last week, he had hardly seen her, beside when she was sleeping. He had checked on her every night before going to sleep and every morning before leaving, but she was always sound asleep. He was looking forward to spend some quality time with his daughter.

"We were just looking for her. I woke up this morning and went to check on her, but her bed was empty so I came down to the kitchen, but none of the staff or the guards have seen her."

"What? Where do you think she is?" David asked frantically. His daughter shouldn't be alone anywhere; she was only five years old and a young five at that.

"Your highness! I found footprints that look like Emma's going out into the forest." One of the guards said as he rushed up to Johanna and David.

"She went into the forest? On a day like this? Did it look like she went alone?" David asked. They always feared that Regina or someone else that wanted revenge against them would come to kidnap their daughter.

"Yeah, it was only her footprints." The guard replied.

"So she went into the forest on purpose." David said with a sigh. He was relieved that no one had kidnaped her, but he wasn't pleased that she was alone in the forest. Also that she disobeyed them and went into the forest when they had told her she wasn't allowed to go off of the castle grounds without one of them.

"Let's go look for her, hopefully she hasn't gotten far. Get Grumpy and Red to come meet me at the edge of the forest. I'm going to go get ready." David said as he grabbed a couple of needed supplies along with a heavier cloak since the temperature had decided to drop and an extra blanket for Emma. He then went out to the edge the forest to meet up with his friends who be able to help him find his daughter.

"Grumpy, Where's Red?" David asked.

"Remember she is out at her old homestead with Granny?" Grumpy said.

"Oh I totally forgot." David said. "Let's follow her trail as best as we can and then if we need to we will split up."

"Got it!" Grumpy said before they set out.

****OUAT****

8:30 pm

Ring. Ring. Ring.

David grabbed his phone quickly so that it wouldn't disturb Emma and saw it was his wife. "Hello?"

"Hi, David. How is she?"

"She's asleep. She's warmed up quite a bit after the bath, but she scared me because she fell asleep in there then when she was about to get out her legs practically gave out on her."

"What? Is she weak?" Snow asked.

"Yes. It's because she hasn't been eating very well or at all since she got sick, which was a couple of days ago. How did we miss this? I feel terrible that I didn't notice." David said in a guilty voice.

"A couple of days? I didn't notice anything either." Snow said in a surprise, yet sad voice.

"We have been busy with Neal, but I feel terrible that she's been sick without us noticing. It might not have gotten this bad if we realized it. Even Granny noticed she had been sick."

"Well, she's been working long hours at the station and we had hardly seen her in the last few days. We will just have to do a better job at keeping an eye on her." Snow said softly trying to make her husband feel a little better. "We can't change the past, but we can change the future."

"You're right. Well, I better check on Emma. Are still coming home in the morning?" David asked.

"Either in the morning or right after lunch. Ruby really wants to try this restaurant for lunch, but I told her I wanted to see how was Emma was doing in the morning."

"Snow, she'll be fine, but if you want I can call you tomorrow to tell you how she's doing."

"That would make me feel better. Give her a kiss for me."

"Will do. Goodnight, Snow."

"Goodnight, Charming. Love you."

"Love you, too."

David shut his phone and put it on the coffee table before getting up to go check on his daughter. He walked over to the bed to see she was still sleeping soundly. He smiled softly as he got closer.

He kissed her forehead. "From your mother." David whispered, but then felt her forehead. It was still warm, but not more than before. "Sleep well, baby."

David adjusted her blankets a little to make sure she was covered well before slipping out of the room and back to the couch to watch a little more TV.

OUAT

Emma was so cold and all she wanted was her mommy and daddy, but they weren't even at the castle and no one knew where she went so nobody would be looking for her. She felt so alone and so sad.

All week she had wanted her parents and even though her dad was coming and going, she hadn't seen him at all. And now she needed them and they wouldn't be able to help her. Emma started to cry again and this time harder than before she wanted her daddy to come and find her. She sank to the ground behind a fallen tree and cried her heart out for her Daddy to find her even though he was probably in a meeting not thinking about her. "Daddy please find me." Emma mumbled through her tears.

OUAT

David was starting to get really worried when it started to snow and then he and Grumpy had to split up cause they had lost Emma's trail. "Emma, where are you?" David asked as he continued to look for his daughter in the first snow of the season.

Another hour later, David came to a fallen tree and almost passed it by when he saw a little figure huddled behind it. "Emma!" David yelled as he ran over and knelt beside his little girl.

"D-Dad-d-y." Emma said through her chattering teeth.

"Oh Emma." David said as he brushed the snow off her hair and clothes before taking the blanket out and wrapping his little girl in it before taking her in his arms so that she was close to his chest. "Are you hurt at all, baby?" David asked as he started walking back to the castle.

"No, j-just c-cold.." Emma said before a coughing fit hit her and she buried her face in her father's chest.

David rubbed Emma's back as she coughed all the while walking back to the castle. He needed to get Emma inside as soon as possible. She had been outside for way too long. "Let's get you home, sweetie." David said as he held Emma tighter and put the blanket over her head to keep the snow from falling on her face.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, Emma spoke up. "Daddy, I am cold."

"I know, baby. We are almost home and then you can take a nice warm bath." David said softly as he picked up his speed.

"No bath, just bed. I'm tired." Emma mumbled.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice, Emma. A warm bath will help you warm up." David said.

Emma groaned. "But I just want to sleep." Emma mumbled.

"You will be able to later." David said softly. After a couple more minutes, David looked down to see that Emma was about to fall asleep and he didn't want that. "Emma, baby, you need to stay awake."

"No daddy. Just want to sleep..." Emma said as she closed her eyes again.

"Emma, you can't sleep. Let's talk about why you ended up in the forest." David said in a reprimanding voice.

"I'd rather not..." Emma said.

"I wonder why..." David said with a shake of his head. "You are in big trouble young lady. Your mother and I told you, you weren't allowed to leave the castle grounds without one of us. Can you tell me why you decided to disobey us?" David said sternly.

"I just..." Emma started, but then decided to tell a little lie to get herself out of trouble. "Well you see...one of the birds of the forest...one of the ones mom can talk to, told me it was okay so I went into the forest." Emma said.

"Emma." David said in a low voice as he stretched out her name. She wasn't the best liar and her voice totally changed showing him that she was making it up as she went. "Stop lying to me."

Emma gulped, but didn't say anything.

"Emma, tell me the truth." David said sternly.

"I just wanted to get away from the castle for a little bit." Emma said knowing that she didn't have a good excuse.

"So you disobeyed us and put yourself in danger just because you wanted to get away from the castle?" David said.

"Yes." Emma said quietly. "Am I in trouble?"

"Big trouble, young lady, but we will talk about this later." David said.

After another five minutes of walking, David and Emma made it back to the castle. David rushed Emma up to her room and got the servants to draw her a warm bath. He sat down with Emma on his lap as he took the blanket off of Emma to see that her clothes weren't damp, but soaked. "Why are you so wet, Emma?"

"I played in a creek for awhile." Emma said sheepishly.

"Emma." David said sternly. "It's too cold to be playing in creeks."

Emma shivered and David quickly took her wet clothes off her before putting her in the warm bath.

"Daddy, it hurts." Emma said after a few minutes in the tub.

"It's just because you are warming up, honey. It will be okay." David said as he stayed with Emma.

After Emma's bath, David got Emma into bed under a bunch of covers.

"Daddy, I don't feel good." Emma murmured from under the covers.

David felt her forehead and felt heat radiating from her skin. "Oh baby."

OUAT

11:45 pm

Emma woke up with a start feeling extremely hot and feeling absolutely terrible. She looked to the other side of the bed to see it empty and the chair beside the bed was empty too. Where was her Dad?

She sat up and looked around the apartment to see that it was pitch dark besides the TV, which was playing softly. She then saw her father asleep on the couch. "Dad." Emma said, but it came out raspy and quiet. She really wanted him especially after the dream she had just had. It felt so real or at least that it could have been real.

Before Emma knew it, she was getting out of bed and making her way to her Dad. She was a bit unsteady on her feet, but she was determined to make it to her Dad. She made it over to him and shook his shoulder. "Dad?" Emma said. When he didn't wake up, she started to cry and then wondered what was up with her emotions. But she didn't really care, she was tired, feeling absolutely terrible, and scared.

"Dad, wake up." Emma cried as she shook his shoulder again. "Daddy."

David woke up to see his daughter crying and automatically sat up. He brought her down to sit on the couch and cradled her to his chest. "What's wrong, Em?" David asked softly as he rubbed his daughter's back.

"Don't feel good." Emma mumbled into his chest.

David felt Emma's forehead and panicked when he could feel the heat radiating off of her skin. "Oh Emma. Let's get you back into bed." David said softly.

"Don't leave me there!" Emma said through her tears.

"I won't, but you need to be bed." David said as he wiped some of her tears away, but was shocked by Emma's outburst. He stood up and helped Emma up off the couch. She was still weak so he picked her up in his arms to bring her back to the bed.

David started to put the blanket back on Emma when Emma stopped him. "Too hot, Daddy." Emma complained.

"Okay, Emma." David said as he only left the sheet on her for now. He grabbed the thermometer from the bedside table. "Emma, open your mouth for me, sweetie." David said expecting Emma to protest that she could do it herself, but she didn't. She opened her mouth and he put it under her tongue. He waited for it to beep as he sat on the bed beside Emma. It beeped and Emma made a grab for it, but she was too slow. David took it with a chuckle at Emma's frown for not getting it first. David look at it and saw that her temperature had went up to 102.8.

"Ok, now we just need to get some medicine in you." David said softly as he started to get up.

"Don't leave me!" Emma said as she sat up and grabbed on to his arm.

"Hey, hey. I'm just getting you some medicine and then I'll be back." David said as he brushed Emma's hair out of her face before putting his hand lightly on her cheek.

"Ok." Emma said quietly, but didn't let go of her Dad's arm.

"Lay back down, Emma." David said as he gently pushed Emma back down on the bed. "I promise I'll be right back." David said as he pried Emma's hands off of his arm. He was still not sure why she was so scared for him to leave her. She was a bit delirious from the fever and exhausted, but she was very clinging which worried him since it was so unlike her.

David got up from the bed and went to get medicine for Emma. He grabbed a glass of water as well before heading back to Emma. When he went back, he saw Emma sitting up in bed once again. She looked pale and worried. "Emma, honey, lay down." David said softly, but then remembered she needed to take her medicine. "Actually, take your medicine first." David said as he sat down by Emma.

He handed her the medicine and the glass of water, but her hand was shaking so he helped her hold it. After Emma took the medicine, David took the glass back. "Okay, now you can lay back down." David said as he pushed Emma back to the bed.

David pulled the sheet up before kissing her forehead. "Ok, sweetie, you can sleep now."

"You won't leave me?" Emma asked as a couple tears fell down her face.

"No, I won't leave you. I'll be right here, princess." David said as he laid down on the other side of the bed.

"Ok." Emma said softly before closing her eyes.

David tried to go back to sleep as well, but his worry for Emma wouldn't let him. After he knew she was asleep, he got up and got a bowl of cool water to try to bring down Emma's fever.

He put the cold compress on her head to try to cool her down.

"What are you doing, Dad?" Emma asked as she opened her feverish eyes.

"Trying to bring your fever down, but you can sleep, it's okay." David said softly.

Emma just looked at him, but didn't close her eyes. He cared about her so much why else would he be up in the middle of the night. Before she knew it she was sitting up and hugging her father.

"Whoa, Emma. What's wrong?" David asked as he hugged Emma back. The compress fell on the bed. When she didn't respond he started rubbing her back.

"I love you." Emma said quietly.

David was shocked for a second as heard those words before smiling softly. "I love you too, baby." David said softly as he put one of his hands on the back her head to hold her close.

Although, Emma wanted to stay in her father's embrace, she was feeling a bit dizzy and weak from sitting up. She pulled away a little and her father kissed her forehead before letting her lay down. He then grabbed the rag again and put it in the bowl.

"Now, you need to get some sleep." David said softly as he put the cold rag back on her forehead.

"I'm sorry." Emma said softly.

"For what, sweetie?" David asked softly.

"For not listening to you and staying home." Emma said quietly.

David smiled at her sincere apology. "Thank you for apologizing. Just don't do that again." David scolded lightly with a hint of a smile pulling at his lips.

"I'll try not to." Emma said seriously.

"Try? Young lady you will do more than try." David warned seriously.

Emma gulped a little at the sudden change in her father. "Yes, sir." Emma said quickly.

"Good. I am sorry too." David answered.

"For what?" Emma asked in confusion.

"For not noticing sooner that you were sick. We should have realized you weren't feeling good and made you stay home to get better." David said as he lightly touched her cheek.

"It's okay. I was avoiding you guys so that you wouldn't notice, but was a bit surprised that you didn't notice. Normally you guys do." Emma said, but her voice was a bit sad at the end at them not noticing.

"I am sorry, sweetie. I know we have been busy with Neal, but we should have noticed." David said softly.

"I forgive you. I should have taken care of myself better. You shouldn't have had to notice, I am not a child." Emma said with a smirk.

David laughed. "Sometimes you act like it…."

"Hey! I do not!" Emma whined, like a kid.

David smirked at her whining. "You are our child and you aren't the best at even admitting to yourself you are sick so it's our job to make sure you are taking care of yourself. But, you really shouldn't have gone to work today." David said with a smile.

"I am sorry for making you have to come find me in that storm." Emma grimaced.

"I know, but it's okay. Now try to get some sleep, everything is forgiven." David said in a softer tone.

Emma nodded before closing her eyes, but then opened them again to find her father's hand and taking it into hers. "Please don't leave me."

"I won't. Sweet dreams, princess." David said softly.

Emma smiled a little thinking of the dream she would like to continue and really wished she would. Her dad gave her a questioning smile, but she just closed her eyes. She could tell him about it later. She slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep hoping her dream would continue.

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