I hope this chapter isn't too jumbled. I'm having an interesting time make trying to guide the story in the direction I want it to go lol Hope you're enjoying it thus far! :)
Chapter 7
The next morning Charity awoke slowly. She could hear voices above deck, and smiled when she remembered the events of the previous day. She was excited to see what the day held.
She quickly crawled out of the bed, got dressed, and went up to the deck. There she found her whole family, the one she was just coming to know and then Killian standing with Emma off to the side. Her father spotted her first, and a grin spread across his face.
Hook looked up from his conversation with Charming to see Charity walking his way. Her eyes were still clouded with sleep, her clothes rumpled, and her hair hung lose down her back.
He watched as she made her way through the small crowd, to stand before her father.
"Morning Dad", she said in a muffled, groggy tone.
Hook saw Charming smile. He could see that the man was head over heals for his youngest daughter. He hadn't expected them to be this close this fast, but it seemed Emma was right. Their father/daughter bond was stronger than any curse.
He glanced over at Snow and saw that her eyes were full of tears. He had noticed that she hadn't known exactly what to do with her youngest. However, she seemed so happy to see the girl and her father reunited.
Snow White glanced at the pirate, and saw his smile. He seemed to be moving on, and was now quietly chatting with Emma. He was a good man, not many would take in a little girl and raise her as his own. He might just be what her eldest daughter needed.
"What would you say to a little sparing match", Snow heard her daughter say.
"Sounds like a plan to me", Charming answered.
She watched the two as they exited the ship, and walked down the pier their strides in perfect rhythm.
"She is his little mini-mi", Emma said in awe.
"Yes she is, and he is loving every minute of it", Snow said with a smile.
"Swan, where can you find something to eat in this town?"
"Granny's is good."
"Would you mind accompanying me? I hate to eat alone."
Snow watched as Emma actually blushed before nodding her head and following the pirate down the gangplank. All that was left was she and Henry.
"Well, what do you say we go watch your grandfather and your aunt sword fight?"
The boy smiled and took her hand as they too exited the ship. They found the pair circling each other in an open field, huge smiles on both their faces. Charming attacked and Charity parried. Around they went, swing swords, ducking, and swirling in a kind of dance.
Before long the father/daughter duo had collapsed on the wet grass in a fit of laughter.
"You're really good, kiddo!"
"Thank you. Hook was a good teacher, but he said he had no idea where I got my style from."
Snow spoke up, "I know exactly where you get it. After watching you on ship, I knew that you and your father fought just alike. You both lead with your left foot, and you both wear the same determined expression", she ended with a smile.
Charming smiled, "Like father like daughter."
Charity smiled back. It was nice to have someone tell her that she was just like her father. She'd always wondered about the man, imagined what he must look like. She could remember staring into the mirror as a little girl and wondering which of her features she got from her father. Now she knew, and she was pleased to say that she also knew where she belonged.
Soon, the small group began to walk back to the apartment for a late breakfast. Snow and Charming walked ahead, while Charity and Henry lagged behind.
"So, Charity, what's it like living on pirate ship?"
She could see the genuine curiosity shining in his eyes. She smiled as she cleared her throat.
"Shall, I'll tell you of my many adventures", she asked in a dramatic tone.
Henry listened with rapt attention to the stories the girl told him; stories of far away lands, treasure, and battles. He watched her as her features became animated, and her hands gestured wildly. She has to be the most interesting person I've ever met, he thought to himself.
Snow looked behind them, and smiled as she watched her daughter's animated movements and expressions.
"She is quite the story teller", she said.
"Did she have much of a choice", Charming said with a grin.
They watched the two youngsters as they told tales back and forth. Both adults laughed, as the children burst into a fit of giggles. The two seemed to be becoming fast friends.
When they reached the apartment, the two teenagers sat down on the couch and continued their discussion while the adults made their way to the kitchen.
"Are you happy to have her back", Snow White asked her husband in a whisper.
"Does it show?"
"Yes, you haven't stopped smiling since yesterday morning!"
"I'm happy we have her back too. Do you think Hook will put up a fight to keep her?"
"I don't see that happening. I think he is to preoccupied with Emma."
Across town, Hook was enjoying his first waffle and talking to the beautiful blond sitting in front of him.
"This is amazing! I can't believe I've been denied this experience my whole life!"
Emma giggled, "Be thankful, for I fear if you did have waffles on the Jolly Roger you would eat far too many of them."
He smiled in return before stuffing another bite in his mouth.
"Was it hard raising her by yourself", Emma asked suddenly.
"At first. I'd had no experience with children, and to have a little girl suddenly in my care caused me some worry. She is a resilient little squirt though, and before long she was a member of the crew. I've always been more like a big brother than a father to her, and I think a papa has been something she's always wanted. I'm thankful we've found all of you because she was beginning to get this look in her eyes like she knew she belonged somewhere, but she didn't know where that was."
"So, you think she always knew our parents were out there?"
"I know that for certain. When she was very little, I would hear her in her cabin speaking to an imaginary friend and she would tell it about her parents. What she thought they looked like, which of them she looked like."
"Who did she say she favored?"
"Always the father. I'm amazed at the bond she and your father share. I would have expected her to be more standoffish like you, but she has embraced them."
"She'll always need you, you know."
At that he laughed, and Emma frowned.
"What? Do you not want to be there for her?"
"No, it's not that at all, love. It's just that the little nymph said the very same thing to me last night. She is a very sensitive creature and I swear she can read my thoughts", he said with a warm smile.
They finished their meal in silence, and then Emma took him on a tour of the town. Once they'd seen all the places of interest, they headed back to her parents' apartment.
When they walked in the sight that greeted them was a happy one. Charity and Charming sat sprawled on the floor, both laying on their sides with a game of chess laid out before them. Snow and Henry sat on the couch watching the match with identical mugs of cocoa in their hands.
"Well it looks like you've got quite the stand-off", Emma said to the room at large.
"Thank goodness you're back! They've been like that for at least an hour and Henry and I have been bored out of our minds", Snow said with a smile.
Emma perched on the couch next to her son, and was surprised when the pirate sank down beside her. Soon, he and Henry were engrossed in a conversation about sailing so she switched places with her son and sidled closer to her mother.
"Those two act like they've never been separated", Emma said in a conspiratorial whisper.
"If it weren't for Henry, I would have been outnumbered all afternoon. She is just like your father, so it's like having two Charmings. Thankfully you are my mini-me", she ended with a grin.
Emma thought about this for a moment and realized that her mother was right. She was a lot like her and Charity was definitely like their father. It was finally beginning to sink in that she had a sister. One who had missed out on just as much time with their parents as she had.
Her revelation must have shown on her face because her mother turned to stare.
"What is it?"
"I just realized that she missed out on everything that I did. Also, I think I'm coming to grips with having a little sister that is my son's age."
"I often wonder what it would have been like to raise both of you. Sometimes I become angry with Regina all over again for what she took from us, but then I see that the curse did bring some good along with it. Without it, we wouldn't have Henry", she ended with a smile.
Emma watched her son as he spoke with the pirate. She could tell that he really liked the pirate, and if she was being honest she did too. This was the first time in ages that she felt safe with someone, like she could open her heart and not be hurt. Her eyes widened when he looked over Henry's head to smile at her.
Yes, the curse definitely had it's advantages.
Thank you for reading! Please review and tell me what you think! :)
