FATHER'S LITTLE GIRL

Being a girl's father is part of a whole new world. Being a girl's father is to understand the mystery of making a well-made braid, is to be seen in the female's part of a store, looking at that huge amount of dresses, being totally lost without the slightest idea of what to buy. Being a girl's father is playing 'cooking fake food' in your daughter's mini kitchen, is to attend to tea parties with stuffed animals and is to change dolls' diapers. Being a girl's father is accepting not only to wear makeup, but also accept having your nails done by her. Being a girl's father is playing fashion show, is to understand the importance of all accessories, is learning how to make clothes' combination and let her choose what to wear. Being a girl's father is wearing wings to play fairy and fly around the house, it is to tell stories about princesses and soulmates at bedtime.

And Robin learned what being a girl's father was. In fact, apparently he was born knowing all about it, as if this were the most natural thing in the world for him. He was present in everything and he was really good at it. He never missed a single moment, not a tea party or any dolls a fashion show. He even knew by heart all of his daughter's dolls names and all of the stories she would come up with. He loved her imagination and her naivety. Most importantly, he loved, from the very first moment, being a girl's father.

But she had never been merely as all the other girls. She was unique in her own way and that was exactly what he admired most in her. It had nothing to do with the magic she inherited from her mother – but of course he also loved her magic, because it was something that made her be who she was. However, what he indeed liked the most in her was how, at a drop of a hat, all of these girly stuff would be left aside and her adventurous side would take over.

How she would wake him up, even before sunrise, with a pleading look and would beg him to take her to a whole new exciting experience through the forest. Or how she made him internally jump with joy when, even before completing six years old, she asked him for a bow, because she wanted to be able to face the monsters with her daddy. He loved how brave and fearless she turned out to be from an early age, even if, at the same time, he felt terribly terrified she would end up in some sort of real danger because of that courage.

Those were glorious occasions for him nonetheless.

The truth was that he adored that his daughter had inherited more than just his blue eyes and his dimples. He really felt incredibly proud to have a daughter who also had his rustic, adventurous and daring side.

He would never actually admit it, but he felt quite proud when she started sneaking around through the rooms without anyone noticing her presence, or even when she began making attempts to small thieveries of food in the house to give it to the mutt that hovered the castle from time to time. Though, they did come to an understanding of how these particular actions were wrong and shouldn't be done.

It was especially this side of her personality, which was in common with his, that made them both get really close. That made them understand each other so well, to the point that only with an exchange of a look, they could have all of the communication and complicity in the world.

So that was why it was to him that she would run when she had a problem that needed a too adventurous solution, or when she just wanted to talk about life, or even when she needed support to convince her mother of something.

Tonight though, tonight was a diferente night. It was one of those girly nights all over again. Or it was supposed to be one and he was gladly going to attend and be part of whatever they would come up with.

It was her first ball and as the princess, she was expected to attend it and to be courted and to dance.

Apart from the 'being courted' part, Robin was actually looking forward to the event. They were supposed to have their first offcial daughter and father's dance and he, the Prince of Thieves, would be dancing with his little princess. This would be a historic and epic moment, for sure. One that he would keep forever in his memory, with great foundness. His little girl was growing up.

If you'd have asked him, back when he was only a thief, how his life would turn out to be, he would never, not in a milion years, be able to even begin to imagine that he would one day be the King, much less that he'd be able to share his daughter's first dance.

His daughter, however, apparently wasn't that excited about it, because she was nowhere to be seen. Time was ticking, people was gathering in the ball room and the princess was missing. Perfect. Regina was already getting a bit volcanic and annoyed with the girl's disappearance and Robin knew just how things could get fieryany moment now.

But he knew his little girl better than anyone, especially when it would come to these scapades of hers. So he left his wife spitting fire inside the castle and went to the only place he knew he would find his child. And indeed, there she was. Exactly where he thought she would be; in her special spot.

To say she was looking beautiful was an understatment. Her silky and ebony curls were loose in perfect sinuous curves, running down her back in a natural way, with a few strands slipping around her shoulders. Her dress was specially designed to a young and beautiful woman, looking quite feminine, but at the same time dramatic enough to show that she was the princess. A delicate corset in a rosé tone, with stones from the center to the collar, circled her upper body gracefully. Her long sleeves, involved her arms sophisticatedly and the skirt was molded in a bell-shaped way till it covered her feet. Beneath the make-up, was her delicate and pure face, if she would smile, he was sure that delightful smile of hers would be adorning her features to compose the perfect image. She was as stunning as her mother, no doubt. But unfortunately, she wasn't smiling. Something was bothering her.

"Perhabs we'll need to put some wanted posts out there so the knights will find you. "

She was startled by her father and turned to him in surprise. "Daddy! You found me..."

"Of course... Mind if I join you? " She didn't. Truth be told, if there was someone she wouldn't really mind joining her today, this person was her daddy. So, she nodded letting Robin know it was okay to come closer, which he gladly did.

The scenery around them was alluring, the palace garden was surrounded by green foliage and flowers. In the center, rather prominently, was Regina's apple tree and at the very end of the garden, it was possible to see the woods, all seemed very peaceful.

In front of them, there was only forest, the trees seemed multicolor with the shift of shadows and shades of green blending together. The sky was clear and the sun was beginning to hide among the few orange clouds. They kept the silence between them for a while, only enjoing the view and the calmness that it brought.

After a few minutes, however, she decided to share with her father what was bothering her on such a wonderful and special day.

"Aunt Snow said today was a very important day. That this ball was a very important one... I might meet my future husband tonight. "

Princess Snow definitely lived in a fairy tale. How could she see any beauty or charm on those stupid royalty rules was beyond him. In fact, he had never even considered the possibility of a potential husband for his daughter appearing tonight, that was not the reason behind the night for them. First of all, she was way too young for it – he truly didn't care for the stupid customs of the Enchanted Forest – and, secondly, that was something that would depend on his daughter and her alone. No one would choose a husband for her. Neither him nor his wife would ever do such a thing, he was certain of it. She would be able to choose someone the day she wanted to, the day her heart would beat faster for someone, whenever this day might be.

Even though Snow never knew half of what her father did when he was married to Regina, she had a lot of audacity to even suggest anything like that to their daughter, specially after everything they – Snow and Regina – went trough already.

"I can't do that, daddy. I just can't choose a guy randomly do be my husband. "

It wasn't a plea. It was a decision. And the very fact that his daughter had fled and actually considered the ideia of having to choose someone tonight in the first place, made him sick. Regina would be furious if she learned the unfolding of events, to say the least.

"Of course not. " He said matter of factly. "I would never let this happen to you. You can be sure of it. And, even if I accepted such a disturbing deed to take place, your mother would never allow it to happen, under any circumstances. That I can promise you. "

"Promise? " She whispered.

"I promise. "

He could feel when she took a deep breath, obviously relieved. He put his arm around his daughter' shoulders and pulled her closer to him, giving a light kiss on her forehead.

If there's one thing he would fight till the end of his life, it'd be for the happiness of those he loved. Besides, everyone deserved to make their own decisions in life and follow their own destiny. - Hell with the traditions and customs of royalty. - He would never take this right from anyone, least of all one of his kids. Being he the King or only the Prince of Thieves.