One of the biggest requests was for Emma and David to start bonding. So, that wish will be granted in this chapter. I also had quite a few people ask for Emma to start hoarding food. This chapter really delves into Emma's memories of her life with Ed and Helga. Trigger warnings for mentions of: food insecurity, domestic violence and child abuse.

Chapter Four: Mini-Breakthroughs

Emma quietly snuck down the stairs. She had willed herself to stay awake through the night once Mary Margaret had tucked her into bed. She had heard she and David turn in for bed not long after that. Nana was curled up on her bed the entire time, clearly telling that something was up. The large dog followed Emma down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Shhhh," Emma put a finger to her lips as she looked down at the dog. "You'll wake them up."

Sneaking into the kitchen, she started looking around to find the best plan. She had done this before, back when she was living with Ed and Helga. Most of the time, she was on her own with cooking. She figured out some basic meals at a young age, like cereal or sandwiches (even if she got sick from the moldy bread they wouldn't throw out). However, sometimes her "kitchen privileges" would be taken away. She would be left going hungry for days. Ed would go as far as locking the cabinets and fridge so she couldn't sneak in. After the first time, Emma hatched a plan.

She'd sneak into the kitchen late at night and grab as much food as she can. She knew what could be stored under her bed or in drawers, not to be found by her abusers. It would be enough to get her through any possible times of being locked in her room or being banned from the kitchen.

Mary Margaret and David were kind. They had told her she was welcome to whatever she wanted in the kitchen. She wanted to believe them, that they would never do the same things that Ed and Helga had. At the same time, she had to protect herself. She wasn't going to risk going hungry ever again.

Quietly as possible, she pushed the chair over to the cupboard and opened it. She grabbed some Hostess snack packages, along with little baggies of fruit snacks and animal crackers. Not enough to raise suspicion, she had been doing this since her first night there. She was slowly gathering a collection. The whole box of fruit snacks going missing would make them worry since Emma was the only one who ate them. She stuffed them into the pockets of her pajamas and then put the chair back. She then went to the fridge and took two juice boxes along with three bottles of water. There was no way to keep them cool in her room, but at the very least she'd have something to drink.

Nana had been silent the entire time, quietly following her around from place to place. She didn't even try to eat the snacks out of Emma's hands, as if she understood. To reward her, Emma fed her a dog biscuit and then decided to grab a few more…just in case Nana was ever "punished". She never had a pet before, but she wanted to be safe.

Going back upstairs, she stashed them in her suitcase under the bed. There would be no reason for Mary Margaret and David to ever search it. Her collection was growing just fine. She would be fine if they suddenly decided she didn't deserve to eat. Letting out a content sigh, Emma rubbed her eyes and climbed back into bed. She wasn't going to be the happiest girl come morning, but it was going to be worth it.

She really liked it where she was. Mary Margaret and David were so nice. They had gotten her toys, a dog even. They even said she could go to August's birthday party, Ed and Helga had never let her play with her friends, ever. They didn't hit her and David hadn't even tried to touch her anywhere. She wanted to believe things could be different, she didn't want them to be like before.

At the same time, she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Helga had good days, too. Sometimes even good weeks. She'd cook for Emma, play with her. They didn't have a lot of money, but they'd head to the park and have fun. Once, Helga even packed their bags and they went on "vacation". They stayed in a motel 5 minutes away from the house and said that they were leaving Boston, they'd go some place where it was warm and sunny. She hadn't been drinking her grown up juice or taking funny looking vitamins.

Then Ed showed up. Helga told Emma to hide in the bathroom. There was lots of screaming and then crying (from Helga). A half hour later, the door opened and Ed scooped her up. Helga looked different, she had a handprint on her face. She started drinking and taking her weird vitamins. She started hitting Emma again and didn't apologize for it anymore.

Two months later and Emma came home from pre-school. Helga was laying on the floor, a needle in her arm. Her eyes were rolled into the back of her head and she didn't wake up, no matter how many times Emma shook her. Ingrid came by and told her to go to her room. An ambulance came and some police officers asked her what happened, but she couldn't help much.

Things got even worse after that. Ed was touching her more, told her she had to make up for Helga being gone. He was taking pictures too. She would cry and ask him to stop, but he never did. Sometimes his friends would come by and "help". There was one friend that had a hook for one hand. He could be even scarier than Ed. He'd laugh every time Emma told him to go away. However, his wound would be the one that saved her.

He had gotten frustrated when Emma tried to run away and punched her in the stomach. The next day at school, she told her teacher that her stomach hurt. They found bruises lining it along with on her back. There were lots of pictures taken that day and she had to talk to a lot of people. Helen had showed up and promised her that she wouldn't be in trouble, no matter what she said. So, she told them that Ed and Killian had been touching her in places where they weren't supposed to. (She only knew that because her teacher had taught her and her classmates about it.)

They had to let her go home with Ed that day, but a few days later the police showed up once more. This time, they arrested both Ed and Killian. Helen was there again, she let Emma grab her blanket and took her to the police station. That had been just a couple of weeks ago. So much had changed within that time.

The words Ed shouted out to her when she was being taken to Helen's car scared her.

"You will be mine again!"

Emma buried her head into her pillow and clamped her eyes shut. She wanted the scary thoughts to go away, she just wanted to enjoy being with Mary Margaret and David. They were like the first real mommy and daddy she had ever had.

That Monday, Mary Margaret walked into Emma's room to wake her up for school. She gently shook her and Emma whined, rolling over. She was clinging tightly to her blanket and stuffed lamb. Mary Margaret tilted her head, something didn't seem right. She touched her foster daughter's forehead and frowned. She was burning up.

"Stay right here, sweets," she said. "I'll be right back."

Heading into her bedroom, she grabbed the thermometer and went back to Emma's. She realized she had a temperature of 101 degrees.

"Emma, sweetheart, does anything hurt?"

"My tummy," Emma admitted with a small whine.

Mary Margaret's frown grew. "Does it feel like you're going to throw up?" Emma nodded. "Okay, let's get you to the…"

She was cut off by Emma throwing up down her pajama top. She immediately began to cry after that. Mary Margaret gently lifted her into her arms.

"I'm sorry," Emma wailed.

"Shhhh, it's okay, I'm not mad at you," she assured. "You're sick. Come on, let's get you in a bath and into some fresh jammies."

Emma sniffled. "I can't wear jammies to school."

Mary Margaret softly smiled. "You're not going to school today, you're too sick to go."

Emma didn't know how to respond to that. Mary Margaret carried her to the bathroom and helped her take a bath. Emma seemed lethargic and was more clingy, not flinching as much as she usually did. Mary Margaret changed her into some new sheep pajamas and by the time she was all dried, David walked into the bedroom.

"What's going on? Is it PJ day at school?" He asked with a glimmer of glee in his eye.

Mary Margaret shook her head. "Emma here isn't feeling too well, she has a fever and threw up. I think she needs to stay home today." She stood up and frowned. "I would stay home with her, but we have a sub shortage…."

"Don't worry, it's my day off," David said. "I can take care of her."

Mary Margaret hesitated. She trusted her husband with Emma, of course she did. She wouldn't have agreed to foster with him if she didn't. However, the two hadn't been left alone before. Emma was still squeamish around grown men and while she clearly liked David, she wasn't entirely open with him. She tended to go to her foster mother if she needed something. However, Mary Margaret knew she didn't have much of a choice. She had to go to work and Emma needed to get used to David in time.

She knelt back down in front of Emma. "Sweetheart, I have to go to work, do you think you'll be okay here with David?"

Emma chewed on her lip. "You'll come back?"

"Of course. David will take good care of you, I promise."

She looked over at David, who was smiling. "Okay…"

David understood Emma's hesitance and would do whatever he could to make Emma feel more comfortable. Mary Margaret kissed the top of Emma's head and turned back to her husband, rattling off any instructions she could think of, telling him where the medicine was. David put his hands on her shoulders.

"I've got this," he assured her. "I know how to take care of a sick child." He noticed Nana coming in the room. "Plus, I've got Nana for backup."

Mary Margaret chuckled. "Alright." She turned back to Emma and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, feel better." She then pecked her husband's lips. "And I love you."

"I love you too, I promise I'll take great care of her."

"I know you will."

Mary Margaret headed out the door and soon her car could be heard pulling out of the driveway. David looked down at the tiny girl and offered his hand out to her. Emma accepted it and followed him downstairs. In her other arm, she had her lamb plushie clutched tightly to her chest, her blankie dragging down behind her. David set up some pillows on the couch and grabbed a quilt, draping it over Emma once she laid down.

"Alright, patient," he said with a very serious voice. "I am Dr. David and I am going to be taking care of you today."

A small giggle escaped Emma's lips. "You're not a doctor, silly. You're the sheriff."

"I wear many hats," he replied with a wink. "Now, I'm going to make you some breakfast and get you some medicine. In the meantime, I prescribe you watch some Doc McStuffins."

He turned on the T.V and headed into the kitchen. He decided to make some plain toast and pour out some juice for Emma, mixing in her formula from Whale. He was worried about her losing even more weight from being sick. There was a 24 hour stomach bug going around her class, but he didn't want it to get worse. He grabbed some Pepto from the medicine cabinet and poured that out as well. When he walked back into the living room, Emma was clearly comfortable and happy as a sick person could be on the couch. He snapped a quick picture and sent it to Mary Margaret to ease her worry. Emma's eyes lit up when she saw the tray in his hands.

"I can eat in the living room?"

"Yup." He settled the tray down on top of her. "For your dining pleasure, toast with a bit of applesauce on top, perfect for an upset tummy."

Emma eyed it suspiciously. "I won't throw up again?"

"I can't promise, but you do need to eat. Plus, some orange juice…and medicine."

She made a face. "Do I have to take it?"

"Afraid so, it's not too bad."

Emma slowly picked it up and sipped it, making an even bigger face. She finished it off though and then threw the cup down.

"Yuck."

David chuckled. "Sorry, but it will help."

He settled down at her feet as she ate her breakfast. He watched the cartoon on the T.V, commenting every so often on one of the toys being "operated" on. Emma was quiet for the most part, just nibbling on her toast and sipping her orange juice. Soon, she began to look a little green. He hopped into action and grabbed a plastic bag, holding it to her mouth. Emma let the contents of her stomach out into it and he stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry, Princess," he whispered.

"Yucky," she mumbled.

"You'll feel better soon, I promise. How about some more juice?"

Emma nodded and he threw the bag out in the trash. He got another, just in case, and got her some more juice as well. When the episode was over, David put on Finding Nemo, which seemed to cheer Emma up a bit. She drifted off to sleep near the end, having not thrown up again. David smiled and kissed the top of her head as she snoozed.

She was such a beautiful little girl. How anyone could be so cruel astounded him. Even after all his years of being a cop, he didn't understand it. Children were precious, they didn't deserve any abuse, let alone the amount that Emma had been through. He wasn't a big believer in the death penalty, but in Ed's case, he wanted it more than anything. Then again, death was too good for him. He deserved to be tortured for life, to know the pain that Emma had felt during her short 5 years of life.

About two hours into Emma's nap, he was still sitting at her feet, watching a family friendly comedy in case she woke up. He heard his phone ring and took it into the other room when he saw Mary Margaret's face on the screen.

"Hey baby," he said. "How's your day going?"

"It's pretty good. How's our girl?"

"She threw up again, but only the one time. She's been fine outside of that, seems to be just as warm, though. I'll take her temperature when she wakes up and gives her more medicine."

"And she's been fine for you?"

"Yup, we've just been chilling."

"I'm glad."

David smiled. "Me too."

As they talked in the security of his office, a woke up. She watched the first few minutes of How I Met Your Mother, but quickly got bored. It wasn't really her cup of tea. Her stomach wasn't feeling as gross anymore and she was really thirsty, but David was nowhere in sight. Picking up her sippy cup, she hopped off the couch and headed into the kitchen. The orange juice was on the third shelf and she was too short to reach it. She started climbing up the shelves to reach it, soon reaching her desired item.

"Gotchya," she said, determined.

As she grabbed onto it, her other arm swung and the sippy cup hit a glass container of ice tea. It came crashing down to the floor and shattered all over. Emma froze in place as she was hit by a memory.

It had been a rainy day, so she couldn't play outside. However, Emma had a lot of energy about her. She was running around the house, playing tag with herself. Helga was out and Ed was in his room, putting needles in his arms. Just as she rounded the table yet again, she knocked into it, causing a 6 pack of beer Ed had just purchased to come careening onto the carpet. It shattered and the overwhelming smell of the alcohol could be smelt all over the room. Ed stormed out of his room and Emma saw his wild eyes.

"What the hell have you done now?" He saw the beer all over the floor. "You stupid piece of shit! Do you have any idea how much that cost?"

"I…I…I'm sorry…"

"You're always fucking sorry. Jesus Christ, when will you ever learn?"

Emma cowered against the couch, holding her hands up over her face, but it was too late. Ed had gotten his belt off in quick succession. The leather was soon colliding with her lips and she could taste the blood.

Emma hopped down from the shelf, somehow miraculously avoiding the glass and sticky beverage. She raced up the stairs to her room and slammed the door shut. Her eyes darted around the room for a safe spot, soon locating the bed. She dived under it, pulling her legs to her chest and doing her best to not sob loudly. She could hear Nana barking downstairs and David calling her name. She put her hand over her mouth and continued to cry.

The footsteps were getting closer and she was getting even more scared. The sound of door opening made her whimper and she buried her face in her hands.

"Emma," David's voice was closer. "Emma, Princess, are you okay?"

The words stilled Emma. No one had ever asked her that after she broke something.

David could obviously hear the sniffling and knelt down by the bed, moving up the blankets so he could see under it. He found Emma there, crying. His heart broke. Before he could say anything reassuring, she moved her hand from her mouth.

"I'm sorry! Please don't hit me!"

His heart sunk lower in his chest and a frown fell across his face. She thought he was going to hit her? What had happened to her before?

"I just…I just wanted more juice and I couldn't find you," she continued. "I accidentally hit the bottle, I didn't mean to! I can…I can get monies for it and pay you. I know Mary Margaret likes it…I'm really sorry!"

"Oh Emma," David whispered. "Sweetheart, you're not in trouble."

Emma sniffled. "I'm not?"

"No, it was an accident. You didn't purposefully break it. Even if you had, you would get a timeout or something taken away. I am never going to hit you or do anything to hurt you. I won't ever touch you in a way that I shouldn't."

Emma looked into his eyes and could tell he was being honest. She had spent so long being afraid of men, but she really wanted to trust David. Slowly, she moved out from under the bed, still clinging tight to her comfort items.

"And you don't have to worry about paying us," David gave her a soft smile. "You're just a little girl, you don't have to buy anything. We'll buy everything you need. I can get Mary Margaret more tea."

Emma nodded. "Okay."

"Did you get hurt from the glass?"

"Nuh uh."

"Can I check?"

Emma hesitated but then nodded once again, allowing David to check her for any cuts or blood. When he was finished, she slowly wrapped her arms around him. David was still for a moment. Emma had never made the first move to be affectionate with him. He was very careful with her, knowing that anything could trigger her. He just wanted her to trust her and it was clear she was staring to. He hugged her back tighter, cradling the back of her head. He kissed her temple and she buried her head into his shoulder.

"I love you, Emma," he whispered.

"Love you too," she mumbled. She wasn't sure what love really was, she had never said that to anyone before, but she felt something in her heart for David, Mary Margaret too.

That brought tears to David's eyes and he had to find a way to clear them up before she pulled away from him. He didn't want her to think there was anything wrong with her saying that. He blinked a few times before she pulled away, rubbing her eyes.

"How about we go back downstairs?" He offered. "You can lay on the couch and I'll clean up the mess before making us some lunch."

"I could help clean up," Emma offered. "I'm good at holding the dustpan."

David smiled a bit. "If there wasn't glass involved, I'd say yes. But maybe you could help me clean up some of Nana's fur when you're feeling better."

"Okay," Emma agreed.

She allowed him to carry her downstairs and tuck her back in on the couch. He didn't miss her content sigh after he kissed her forehead. They still had ways to go, but slowly, they were making progress.

I hope you all enjoyed that chapter! As always, please tell me what you want to see and what you thought. Until next time, friends. =)