Chapter 7

Mary-Margaret bobbed and swayed Emma in her arms but, their sweet little girl just wouldn't settle.

"Shh. Shh. It's okay baby. It's okay. Shh." she pressed a kiss to the side of her head soothingly.

"Daddy." Emma sobbed hiccupping through the tears. "Mommy… Daddy." her cries tore into her mother who at nearly four months pregnant couldn't wait for her husband to return from his night shift. "Oh! I know. I know. Daddy will be home soon." she rocked her more until she could feel Emma easing and settling. "Daddy loves you. He'll be home soon." Mary-Margaret whispered sweetly as she moved them slowly towards the crib.

"Nolan, under no circumstances are you to continue contact with Albert Spencer." Captain Humbert stated adamantly.

"He threatened my family. My wife!" David roared, referring to the poison pen letters he'd received prompting a visit to the high security prison.

"Officer Nolan!" The sick monster had called jovially. "What a pleasant surprise." Yet, before he could even blink David had him pushed and then pinned to the hard wall ignoring the shouts and restrictions of the guards. "Listen to me you piece of shit. The only reason you're alive is because of her." he breathed. "If you ever- threaten my family again I will not hesitate to put two bullets into your skull." This made George grin like a Cheshire cat as David was pulled from him. "GET OFF. Get off of me."

"Oh. I look forward to it."

"I know." his boss's words snapped him back to reality. "Trust me, I know but you can't let him get to you."

David exhaled. "I know."

"Look, go home. Be with them."

"But… Sir."

"That's an order Nolan." he said sincerely.

"Yes. Sir."

It was just after midnight when she felt her husband climb into bed and wrap his arms around her. He was cold.

"Hey." she turned stroking his face. "MA! David you're freezing. Are you okay?" she was full of concern.

"It's just…" he couldn't find the words. "-been a long day."

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

He couldn't worry her, what with Emma and their new child. She didn't need the stress so he just deflected and changed the subject. "I'd like to talk about you." he was suddenly animated guiding her gently down against the pillows and pressing light kisses to her lips as she moaned in frustration and pleasure.

"David- Mmm. Stop changing the subject." she laughed, as he continued his ministrations, seeming to regain some of his spirit and humour.

"Oh but you are my favourite subject." he teased the words into the next kiss feeling her body slowly arch into him.

"Mmm. How was your day?" How's Em and Peanut?"

"Cranky. They were both cranky. Guess they had a bad day too." she suggested.

"I'm sorry." he kissed her apologetically as she stroked his face. "Promise me you'll tell me when you're ready?"

"I promise." he swore.

A satisfied smile graced her lips. "Good."

"Charming?"

"Yes?"

"Do you know what my favourite subject is?" she teased.

He shook his head playing dumb. "Making love to my husband."

Turns out, he loves that subject just as much as she does. Maybe more.

She wakes feeling him press sun-streamed kisses to her growing bump and lips.

"Mmm. Good morning." she murmurs following the kiss up before he breaks it to run his blessed thumbs across her cheek memorising every detail of her.

"Good morning." he replies playfully toying with a loose tendril of from her pixie. She was growing it a little and he loved it. Mary-Margaret's smile was radiant. "Someone's in a good mood."

David stole a fierce kiss briefly knocking the air out of both of their lungs. Breathing hard he caressed her cheek his matching smile never fading once.

"Well, I realised I have a lot to be thankful for."

"Oh?" she faux teased.

"Good job, two wonderful children…" he made her wait for the last bit. "-the world's most amazing wife."

Mary-Margaret's eyes sparkled. "Keep talking."

"She's smart, sexy and an incredible mother." he purred as she laced her arms around him.

"Ditto."

David's eyebrows quirked. "You think I'm an incredible mother?"

She chuckled as he initiated rapid kisses. "Chaarming!"

"Snow."

Inside Mary-Margaret was so glad she wasn't back to work until Monday. So very glad. Weekends were treasured in the Nolan house. Of course, they'd tried to spend them together as much as possible but, lately? They really needed the money from both of their extra hours.

Thank God for grandparents.

Today was different. Today they were playing in the park.

Mary-Margaret was sat with an excitedly squealing Emma on her lap while Daddy Charming gently swung back and forth, back and forth with the gentle breeze.

"Yeeee!" Emma squealed.

Mary-Margaret chuckled at their daughter's reaction kissing her cheek and feeling the light flutters of her baby.

"She's loving it. Honey, she's absolutely loving it!"

"Good. Wanna try a little higher?" he suggested happily.

"I don't know." she teased making herself nose to nose with Emma. "What do we think Em? Shall we go higher?" Emma giggled and squealed at the prospect as well as her mother's silly tone of voice. "Shall we? Daddy, Princess Emma would like to go higher." she called as if she were radioing him.

David chuckled. "As you wish."

After a long and fun-filled day Princess Emma needed a big B. A. T. H. The little girl splashed and played with her duckies as her mommy and daddy washed and cleaned her body leaving one part to the last minute.

Hair.

"Get ready." she warned trying to distract Emma as her husband held the semi filled jug over their baby's head ready to wash the baby shampoo and conditioner out.

"Okay…" she said while smiling at Emma. "GO!"

And just like that David poured one and then another jug of water gently over her head the soap trickling backwards as she unconsciously held her head back copying mommy.

"That's it. Atta girl." They said together until it was all out. "There's our girl. MA!"

Lying on the bed later with Emma safely between them she whispered. "Tell me." Stroking his face tenderly as he stayed silent. "The other night. Tell me Charming." He sighed at her touch listening to the sweet sounds of their princess lost in dreams. Tiny blonde curls growing day by day.

"Promise me you won't hate me."

"I would never hate you. I couldn't. Charming you're scaring me." He took a breath seeing her fear. He could not keep this from her anymore.

"I saw Spencer."

"What?" she said in disbelief.

"I saw Spencer. I visited him."

She didn't say anything more just reacted breaking from him and scooping Emma up and heading towards the door.

"Snow."

"I'm putting our child to bed." she said emotionless, before leaving him completely alone.

"You have to talk to me." David pleaded as she left Emma's room and tried to move past him. He looked desolate and it cut her up but she was so angry. "Please. You can't shut me out like this."

She half- laughed. "I asked you. I wanted you to tell me. And you made excuses and I thought… "It's work, he's been working too much." a tear fell.

"I'm sorry." he breathed out trying to comfort her but she wrenched herself away. "You promised me. You- swore on our children."

"He threatened you. The kids. How could I just stand there?"

"You still didn't tell me!" she shouted pulling him into the spare room and out of earshot of their slumbering baby.

"I was scared!"

"Did you think I wouldn't stay here with you? After everything we've been through. Did you think I would ever leave your side?" Frustration tumbled out.

"I can't lose you. I will not lose my family. Not to him. Not to anything." she softened at his words and let him close the distance to embrace her.

"You should have told me." she breathed burying himself into the crook of his neck and taking in his scent as he kissed the side of her head. "I know. I'm sorry."

"You didn't believe David." she sighed. "You needed to believe in us."

I promise they'll be okay. I just wanted to give them a challenge. xxx