Title: Home
Disclaimer: Once Upon A Time and its characters belong to Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and are owned by ABC. Not Mine!
A/N: This is dedicated to my Daddy who I won't be able to spend Father's Day with, but wish that I could. He was the best Dad I could have ever had and although I only got to spend six years with him, he was my Prince Charming. :) Happy Father's Day!
How it should have been...
(A father's day tale)
Two weeks ago...
Emma wasn't sure what her father wanted to talk to her about, but it couldn't be good if he was stalling. He had wanted some quality father/daughter time so he invited her out to dinner at the diner. She was starting to get worried that he wanted to talk about a certain pirate she had recently started to date and those conversations were always a bit awkward to say the least.
"So Emma, there is something I have been meaning to talk to you about." David starts.
"That can't be good." Emma teases with a nervous chuckle as she starts to move her food around her plate aimlessly.
"It's not about Hook, even though that could be a later topic." David chuckles softly.
"Oh great, something to look forward to." Emma says sarcastically, but a small smile comes to her lips. She knew that he really didn't object to Killian because he knew he made her happy, but that didn't mean he wouldn't threaten Hook with his sword every once in a while for good measure.
"Anyway, when we were separated for the last year. I had a dream that I wanted to share with you. It was right before I found out your mother was pregnant with Neal." David pauses, noticing that Emma looks curious about his dream.
"In my dream, I heard a baby crying and was trying to find where the baby was. The cry seemed familiar to me and it felt very important for me to find where it was coming from. It led me to a room, which ended up being your nursery, but we were in the wrong castle for it to be there. I couldn't understand why it was there and why it looked like it hadn't been touched by the curse. As I was expressing my feelings, you came out of nowhere saying that it was wrong for a grown princess to be still living in her nursery. You were nervous because you were going to your first ball and you didn't know how to dance. Then you asked me to teach you so we started dancing." David smiles softly at the memory of that moment of Emma reaching for his hands and pulling him forward. Then she twirled right in front of him. So beautiful.
"You told me that you weren't really there and you had never been there because I failed you. Then the room went dark and you got sucked away from me into the wardrobe. I tried to save you, but you said it was too late because I failed you. Then you told me not to fail the next one." David finishes with a sad look in his eyes, but yet a determined look.
Emma wasn't sure how to respond to her father's dream, but she didn't like the idea of him blaming himself for something that was simply out of their family's control. "You didn't fail me." Emma replies softly.
"I did fail you, Emma. I put you in that wardrobe and sent you away to a world that couldn't comprehend your value. I am truly sorry that I wasn't there for you." David says softly as he looks into his daughter's eyes.
"You didn't fail me though, you saved me and more than once. If you and mom hadn't sent me through, Regina would have killed me so that her curse could never be broken. You saved me when you fought the black knights to put me in the wardrobe and you almost lost your life protecting me. It may seem from your perspective that you failed me, but I don't see it that way. You and mom saved me, you didn't fail me." Emma says.
"You give me more credit than I deserve, but thank you." David says with a smile.
"So we danced in your dream?" Emma asks with curiosity.
"Yeah and you even wore a ball gown. You were very pretty in it." David answers with a proud smile.
Emma blushes slightly at the compliment even if it was in a dream. "What color was it?"
"White and silver. It reminded me of a swan." David answers with a smile as he thinks of the beginning of his dream, the good part. "I'm a little disappointed that Hook got your first dance at your first ball." David adds after a moment in a bit of a grumpy voice.
Emma grimaces. "You were there." Emma says trying to make up for her first dance not being with him. She actually always wanted a father daughter dance, but for longest time she never had the option for something like that so she would just act like it didn't matter to her.
"That's even worse. I wasn't even aware that I was missing something as important as my daughter's first ball." David says with a chuckle.
"Are you jealous of Hook?" Emma teases with a grin.
"Yes. And speaking of Hook..." David starts with a mischievous grin.
"Oh great, here we go...what fatherly advice do you have for me now?" Emma teases with a hint of nervousness.
***OUAT**************OUAT***************OUAT***
Emma knew she would regret this as soon as she asked, but she felt like it was the perfect gift for her father and in a way, a gift for her mother. She had purposely stopped by her mom and dad's apartment when she knew her Dad had already left for work. She would be a little late, but she could blame it on Granny's having a long line.
She gets to the loft door and she would just walk right in, but she has walk into quite few awkward situations by doing that so she knocks instead.
"Emma! You don't have to knock, sweetie, you can just come in." Snow says with a grin as she hugs Emma.
Emma tensed, but then relaxed under her mother's touch. Ever since she started calling them 'mom and dad,' her mom has hugged her a lot more. She can't say that she really minds it that much, but it is still hard to get use to.
"Is Dad here?" Emma asks after her mom lets her go.
"No, you just missed him. If you go quickly you probably can catch up with him." Snow says.
"Well I actually need to talk to you about something." Emma starts with a bit of hesitation.
"Are you pregnant?" Snow asks out of the blue.
Emma cheeks go red with embarrassment. "No...we haven't even..." Emma stumbles over her words.
"Oh, well that's good. I don't think your father could handle that quite yet even though he would love to have another grandson or a granddaughter." Snow says with a bit of disappointed. "So what did you want to talk about?"
"Well I have an idea for a present for Father's Day, but I need your help with it. It's kind of big." Emma starts knowing that once she tells her mother there is no going back.
"Ok...so you need money." Snow asks with a confused look on her face.
"Not exactly. Yesterday, Dad told me about the dream he had when you two were still in the Enchanted Forest."
"Oh the one with you in it." Snow replies knowing that David had wanted to talk to Emma about that for a while.
"Yes. I need you to help me plan a ball so that I can give him the chance to dance with me." Emma explains.
Snow eyes light up. "Your kidding? You want to throw a ball for Father's Day?" Snow asks with growing excitement.
"Geez, calm down. Yes, but I need your help and I want it to be a secret from Dad." Emma explains with a smile, her mother's excitement was starting to get contagious.
"Wait is this going to be like a ball in the Enchanted Forest with ball gowns?" Snow asks with a huge grin on her face.
"Yes, if we have them." Emma replies with her own grin. She liked being able to make her mom happy and this was making her ecstatic.
"We do! Plus some of the good seamstresses are in town and I am sure they could help with the gowns. Oh this is so exciting!" Snow practically jumps up and down with excitement.
"Remember, it's a secret and the ball has to be on Father's Day." Emma reminds her mother who she feels she will have to scrap off the ceiling soon enough.
"I know, I know. What kind of dress do you want?" Snow asks as she finds a notebook and pen to start writing down the plans.
"Well this might be impossible, but I want the dress to be similar to the one dad said I was wearing in his dream. He said it was white and silver and it reminded him of a swan, which seems like a perfect dress for me." Emma bites the side of her cheek feeling a little embarrassed by her request. He said she had looked pretty in it and she wants to give him that again, but in real life.
"I think that can be arranged. Now, where should we have it? It will need to be big enough for the whole town." Snow wonders out loud.
"How about the outside somewhere? We could have lights strung up everywhere like how it was during Founder's day." Emma suggests.
"That's a perfect idea!" Snow says as she writes in her notebook. "But we will have to get creative about keeping this from your father when the time comes to put the decorations up."
"Just leave that to me. Maybe I can get Grumpy to cause some trouble somewhere away from the center of town." Emma says with a mischievous grin. "Ok, well I better go. Dad is probably wondering where I am."
"Ok! I'll keep working on the plans and talk to the seamstress about your dress."
"Ok and Mom? You may wanted to tame your excitement by the time Dad gets home or else he may start to get suspicious." Emma teases with a grin.
Snow chuckles. "I'll try."
"Good. See you later." Emma says as she walks out the door. Surprisingly, she doesn't regret her request for her mom to throw a ball, but she has a sneaking feeling that sometime in the next two weeks that she will be regretting it. She smiles anyway because she knows she just made her mother's day and that would be worth suffering through the next two weeks. Also it would be worth it to finally get to dance with her father and give him the best gift she can think to give him. A chance to be a father and dance with his daughter, something he hasn't had the chance to do because of the curse. She smiles and finds herself looking forward to the dance. She may have to tame her own excitement...
Two days ago...
"Emma, you have to stand still." Snow scolds her daughter as she tries to get Emma into the corset.
"Why do I even have to wear this?" Emma asks in a grumpy voice. She was trying on the dress she would wear for the ball for the first time. Her mom wouldn't let her look at it until it is on her. She wants her to have the full effect of the dress when she sees it.
"Because the dress was made for you to wear a corset with it." Snow replied as she continues to struggle against Emma.
"You do know that these things do damage to your internal organs, right?" Emma complains, but tries to stay still.
"It will only be one night." Snow replied calmly as she finally finishes cinching up the corset. "Now, close your eyes."
"How am I supposed to put a dress on with my eyes closed?" Emma asks with a frustrated sigh.
"I'll help you. Now close your eyes." Snow instructs.
Emma closes her eyes with a sigh and waits for her mother's instructions. It takes some work, but Emma is able with the help of her mother get into the dress. She can't really breathe and she is really hoping that this dress is as pretty as the one her Dad saw in his dream. She didn't want to disappoint him. "Can I open my eyes now?" Emma asks with both excitement and nervousness.
"Hold on." Snow says as she moves Emma in front of the full-length mirror. "Okay, open your eyes."
Emma stares at herself in the mirror and wonders if it is really her. The dress is absolutely beautiful and it does remind her of a swan, which is absolutely perfect for her.
"What do you think?" Snow asks with excitement as a couple of tears stream down her face. Emma looks stunning in the ball gown and she just knows that she will look so beautiful in it on Sunday.
"I…" Emma starts as a tear rolls down her cheek. "I love it."
Snow grins as she looks at her daughter. "You look beautiful, Emma. Absolutely beautiful." Snow says sincerely as she hugs Emma from the side.
"Thank you, mom." Emma replies with a smile.
"It's I that should thank you, Emma. I always dreamed about dressing my daughter up for a ball and you have given me that chance." Snow says with a soft smile.
"Your welcome. I'm just sorry we couldn't have done it sooner." Emma replies softly.
"I know, but this is perfect." Snow says as she continues to stare at her beautiful daughter. "Oh I need to take pictures!" Snow says suddenly and runs to find her camera.
Emma rolls her eyes. "You do know that Dad is supposed to be home in another hour, right? He can't see me in this or it will ruin the whole surprise!" Emma yells to her mother who is now back with her camera.
"Smile, Emma!" Snow grins as she starts snapping pictures.
"Oh Mom..." Emma complains.
Present day...Father's Day...
"What's going on with the town? They all seem to be going crazier and crazier. Everyone seems to be whispering all the time and they all stop talking when I come around." David tells his wife, as he gets ready in the morning.
"A little paranoid, are we?" Snow teases with a chuckle.
"Maybe a little, but it is justified. They are all acting very suspicious. I know Emma is keeping something from me. Has she been seeing more of Hook recently? She just seems really guilty all the time." David says with a confused, yet amused smile. She is a terrible liar and she has been making excuses up left and right that don't make sense.
"I don't know, maybe." Snow replies with a grin. Emma wasn't very good at keeping secrets, but she had managed to keep this secret. Although, for the last week because of Emma's terrible lying skills, David had been getting more and more suspicious of her. Fortunately, he had no clue what it was about so he couldn't get the truth out of her.
David's phone rings and he answers it. "Hey Emma."
"Hey Dad, I need your help. Grumpy causing trouble at the cabin in the woods." Emma says through the phone.
"What kind of trouble?" David asks starting to get suspicious once again.
"I don't know, but one of the other dwarfs said to get you and come fast." Emma replies.
"Okay, I'll pick you up in five minutes." David replies.
"Okay, see you soon." Emma says before hanging up.
"Well I have to go, but I think she is up to something." David says with a sigh.
"She isn't up to anything." Snow says with a shake of her head at how paranoid her husband is even though he actually is correct she is up to something, they all are.
"I'm beginning to think you are up to something too." David teases before kissing his wife.
"Maybe I am." Snow says with a laugh.
"You two are going to drive me crazy." David says with a grin before leaving the loft.
***OUAT**************OUAT***************OUAT***
"Do you think it was such a great idea to give Hook the job of making sure Dad gets here?" Emma says nervously as she smooths down her dress.
"Everything is going to be fine, Emma. You look beautiful and your father is going to love his gift." Snow reassures her daughter.
"Okay." Emma says nervously. Now that the time has come, she can't control her nerves. She has been waiting for this moment all her life and for the longest time she believed it wasn't even possible. But here she was waiting to finally get to dance with her Dad on Father's Day. She just hoped that he would like it and that she wouldn't make a fool out of herself as she danced considering she had only danced the one time with Hook.
"He's here!" Henry yells as he runs over to his grandma and mom.
"It's time, come on." Snow says as she takes Emma's hand.
Emma is excited, yet terrified as she let's her mom led her to where her dad is supposed to be.
***OUAT**************OUAT***************OUAT***
Hook wasn't making any sense when he insisted that he wear clothes from the Enchanted Forest that looked like something he would have worn to a ball, but Hook kept insisting that he wear it. Finally, he decided it that he would just go along with Hook to at least shut him up from going on and on about missing the Enchanted Forest and his ship. Then Hook insisted that they go out in these clothes and he practically dragged David out of the apartment.
As they get to the square, David notices all the lights that are strung up and wonders what in the world was going on and how had he not know about it. He walks slowly up to the crowd and notices that everyone is in ball attire even his grandson that he manages to see before he darts back into the crowd. He had been right; something had been going on in this town.
"What's going on?" David asks Hook as they walk closer to the crowd.
"It looks like a ball." Hook responds with a crooked grin on his face. "I'll let you go first." Hook says as he motions David forward towards the center of the group.
David walks forward completely stunned by everything, but then he sees his daughter walking towards him and forgets everything else. She is stunning in every possible way. She looks more beautiful than in his dream in her white and silver dress the shapes her like a glove. Her hair is up in an intricate design that only Snow could have done and she has a shy, little smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
Emma walks slowly to her Dad, feeling the butterflies swarming in her stomach, but there is no need for her nervousness because he is looking at her with such loving eyes it is almost overwhelming. She swallows her fears and closes the gap between them and grabs his hands to pull him back to the center of the dancing area.
"Emma, you're absolutely beautiful." David says as a tear streams down his face.
Emma blushes with the compliment, but she has a huge smile on. "Happy Father's Day, Dad." Emma says with a soft smile as she bits the side of her lip.
"You did this for me?" David asks with a smile.
"Yeah, I thought you should have a chance to dance with me so this is my gift to you. I hope it makes up for all the Father's Days I have missed." Emma says.
"It goes way beyond making up for them. Thank you, Emma." David says as he takes Emma's face in his hands and kisses her forehead.
He let's go, but them Emma tentatively holds out one of her hands and asks as the soft, beautiful music starts to play, "May I have this dance?"
"I thought you would never ask." David says as he puts his hand up and she clasps on to his hand with hers.
"Just as a warning, I really don't have any idea what I am doing. I only danced a couple of dances with Killian at that ball." Emma says nervously as the crowd watches as they start to dance.
"Don't worry, just follow my lead." David says softly before he twirls Emma around.
Emma smiles as they dance and she forgets about the people watching and just focuses on her Dad who makes dancing effortless.
"You are a natural, just like your mother." David says softly as he continues to dance with his daughter. The other couples start to slowly join them as the song continues.
"Really?" Emma asks with another smile on her face.
"Yes." David replies seeing the joy in his daughter's eyes.
"Speaking of mom, I guessing she is taking pictures right about now." Emma says as she scans the crowd for her mother who is dressed in a beautiful, blue ball gown and snapping pictures like her life depended on it.
"Well then we better give her something to take a picture of." David says as he effortlessly picks Emma up and twirls slowly in a circle. "Thank you for this, Emma. It's the best gift you could have given me and your mom."
"Your welcome." Emma says softly before she kisses her father's cheek. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Emma." David says as he comes to a stop, but doesn't put Emma down. He is too touched by her actions and those three little words.
David sets Emma down and they continued to dance through the rest of the song, but the song ends too quickly for both of them. However, they have all night to dance and he plans on dancing with his daughter quite a few more times before the night is over.
***OUAT**************OUAT***************OUAT***
Snow was thrilled at how the night had turned out. Everything was beautiful and everyone was beautiful. David was totally surprised despite his suspicions earlier and seemed to be enjoying every bit of it. Emma was also having a great time. She doesn't remember Emma smiling so much in one night ever before. Emma had danced quite a few dances with she father, but quite a few dances with Killian and Henry as well.
"She's beautiful." David says interrupting Snow's thoughts as they dance.
Emma is dancing with Henry again. They both look a little clumsy dancing together because they both don't know exactly what they are doing without an experienced dancer, but they are having a lot of fun. They are laughing and teasing each other as they dance.
"Yes, she is." Snow says after a moment. "And she is happy."
David grins and looks at his wife. "Thank you for this. I know that you helped Emma plan it. I don't know how you convinced her to do this, but it must have been a terrible struggle." David says with a chuckle.
"I didn't think of this. It was all her idea. She came to me two weeks ago, asking me if I would help her throw a ball for you for Father's Day." Snow replies with a soft grin.
"What? Really." David asks in surprise. He smiles as he looks over to his daughter again.
"Yep. It was all her. She wanted to give you the chance to dance with her even if it wasn't her first dance." Snow explains.
"I may just have to steal another dance from her." David says after a moment.
"You have to finish this one first." Snow teases.
"Of course." David says with a grin as he kissed his wife passionately, just as Henry and Emma get closer to them.
"Really?" Emma says as she looks up to see her parents practically making out in front of her, but she can't help the smile that comes to her lips. She fell in love with their love story during her time traveling experience. Although, she doesn't need to see her parents making out, she can't help, but be happy when she sees them so happy with each other.
"Ewww." Henry adds in agreement with his Mom.
David and Snow take their time finishing their kiss before pulling away from each other to look at their daughter and grandson with unashamed expressions. The song ends and they all let go of each other.
"Come on, Henry. I'm going to teach you a couple of dance moves so that you aren't stepping on the girls' feet." Snow grins as she pulls Henry towards her.
"May I have this dance, Princess Emma?" David asks with a slight bow as he holds his hand out.
"It would be my pleasure, your majesty." Emma answers with a grin as she takes her father's hand. She truly feels like a princess the way he has treated her all night and she loves it more than she ever thought she would.
They dance to the music both enjoying the company of the other. This night has been more than either of them had ever imagined it could be.
"Thank you, Dad." Emma says at the end of the dance.
"For what?" David asks with confusion.
"For making this night special." Emma says quietly.
For some reason, David understands and takes Emma's hand kissing the top of it before saying, "It was my pleasure." David twirls her once more before letting go of her hand.
"May I steal a dance?" Hook asks with his crooked grin.
"I guess, but I'll be watching." David says, but grins because he can see how happy Emma is with him.
"Of course. Thank you, kind sir." Hook says with an exaggerated bow to David.
David rolls his eyes before finding his wife.
"How's is your second ball?" Hook asks as he starts to maneuver Emma around the dance floor.
"It's been wonderful." Emma replies with a grin.
"Have I told you that you are gorgeous tonight?" Hook asks with a grin.
"Yes, a couple of times along with quite a few other compliments, but you can keep them coming. I don't mind." Emma grins, her cheeks have a pinkish tint to them and she seems to be glowing from the excitement of the night.
"Good because I can't stop giving them. Is your father watching us?" Hook asks with mischievous grin.
Emma looks around to find her father. "Yep." Emma replies, but before she knows it Hook is kissing her. She doesn't stop him even though in the back of her head she is thinking that her Dad is watching them and probably trying to find his sword, but she ignores it because her pirate is kissing her. He has a way of totally distracting her from the outside world.
Hook pulls away. "Do you think he saw us?" Hook asks with unashamed look.
"I'm afraid to look, but I am pretty sure you just signed your death wish." Emma laughs a little nervously.
"Probably." Hooks says with a smile.
Emma looks over at the last place she saw her Dad to see him scowling at Hook and she has to duck behind him to hide her smile. "Yeah, he isn't too happy. You may need to run for your life." Emma chuckles with a huge grin.
"Well it was worth it." Hook teases as he chances a glance at the Prince, who is now eyeing him dangerously. He just smiles back at him before turning back to Emma.
"I think he is coming around to the idea of us." Hooks says in a serious tone.
"You think?" Emma raises one of her eyebrows at Hook and then laughs, her Dad was never going to be okay with her with anyone. She kind of like that, it made her feel special and cherished. She was okay with that, but she really hoped that Hook would make it. He tended to unnecessarily risk his life by irritating her father with making comments and stealing kisses from her right in front of him. She is surprised he has made it this far...
***OUAT**************OUAT***************OUAT***
"I think this will have to be the last dance." Snow tells Emma.
"Ok." Emma says before she goes to find the person the she saved her last dance for. "One more dance?" Emma asks with a shy smile.
"Of course, Emma." David says as he takes his daughter's hand and begins to dance with her for the last time of the evening. "Did you have a good time?"
"Yes. It was the best night ever." Emma grins as she thinks of the fairy tale characters that she danced with tonight. Prince Thomas, Prince Eric, Prince Phillip, Captain Hook, Prince Charming and even Snow White. How could a girl not be happy after dancing the night away with all the fairy tale characters you could think of?
"It was, wasn't it? Thank you again." David said as he twirled Emma and then swings her up into his arms like he did in the first dance.
Emma smiles and kisses his cheek again before saying, "Happy Father's Day, Daddy."
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