So I probably won't be posting again until after finals - aka 2 weeks. So I hope this holds you over until then!

This chapter is all Emma and her parents.


"It's a beautiful day to be shooting." Snow said as she and Emma walked from the castle to the shooting range. "The sun is shining and there is very little wind."

"I love the sun." Emma turned her face up to let the sun shine on it. Snow smiled as she watched her daughter. It was simple moments like this she had missed when Emma was growing up. "But I actually like shooting in wind."

"You do?" Snow seemed surprised.

"I enjoy the challenge." Emma explained. "The chances that there will be no wind when you actually need to use your archery skills are not that high, so I find it best to practice in variable conditions to ensure when the time comes I can shoot in any environment."

"Any environment?" Snow raised an eyebrow. "What about a blizzard?"

"We do not have blizzard like conditions in Altair." Emma said. "But we can travel to other realms to practice in those environments. One of those I have not mastered is torrential downpour and high speed winds but alas I do not truly believe I will ever be able to master those."

"Probably not." Snow laughed. "At that point it is almost more useful to use a sword."

"My thoughts exactly." Emma agreed.

"Here we are." Snow motioned as the range opened up before them. Emma was impressed by the caliber of the training area. There was a storage area that held a gleaming array of bows of all different makes and sizes. A variety of arrows, both light and heavy shafts for whatever the user preferred. There were targets at varying distances of varying sizes. In one cabinet Emma saw what she assumed were to be used as moving targets for more difficult shooting.

"This is very impressive." Emma nodded in approval.

"Your father and I like to keep our skills well maintained." Snow explained.

"I can see that." Emma agreed.

"You can pick whichever bow you like." Snow motioned toward the storage area. "They are all well made. It just depends on your preference."

"I usually like practicing out of my comfort zone. You never know what you might be saddled with in the heat of the moment." Emma said as she walked over to the bows. She picked out a few, testing them out her body size. After careful consideration she picked a darker bow with a bit more flexibility. She picked up various arrows, feeling their weight in her hand. Finally she filled her quiver with a mix of a light and airy shaft and a dense and heavier type.

"Are you ready?" Snow asked when Emma turned around.

"Yes." Emma nodded.

"Well just pick a target and go at it." Snow walked over to a target and began to draw her bow back, shooting her first arrow. Her eyes darter over to Emma, watching as the girl methodically picked her target and began to feel out the bow.

Emma chose her target and closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the bow, trying to feel out its flexibility. She turned her face, trying to find the exact direction of the slight wind. Finally she drew an arrow and knocked it. Slowly she pulled the string back, setting her sight on the dead center of the target, she adjusted slightly for the wind and breathed in. She breathed out slowly, releasing the arrow at the same time. The light-weight arrow shot through the air, piercing the distant target almost dead center, barely a few millimeters off. "Damn." Emma swore. She looked up at Snow, eyes wide. "I'm sorry, I should not have said that."

"It's ok." Snow shook her head. "Just try not to speak like that in front of your brother."

"I'm pretty sure he uses those words more than I do." Emma pointed out.

"Which is why we try not to use profanities around him." Snow explained. "Anyway your shot was excellent, I don't see why you are frustrated."

"It wasn't on center." Emma explained. "I shoot for perfection."

"Clearly." Snow smirked. "It's a different bow than you are used to and it is only your first shot."

"Yes but I need to be adaptable no matter the circumstances." Emma shook her head in disappointment. "There aren't second chances in…" Emma caught herself before she said too much. "Sometimes you only get one shot with a foreign bow and you need to make it count."

"Emma you are still young." Snow let out a small laugh. "It is ok that you are not perfect yet, even though you are quite close to it in my opinion. You do not have a need to be perfect yet."

Emma held her tongue. Even though it was truly necessary for her to have complete accuracy in her aim due to her position in Altair it was not something her mother needed to know. Finally Emma just shrugged. "I guess I've just always strived for perfection."

"You are very much like your father in that way." Snow shook her head, unable to keep the smile from her face. "He is never happy with what he does, for him it could always be better."

"Family trait I guess." Emma shrugged. She picked a heavier arrow this time. Emma repeated the same process as before, this time trying to adjust for the heavier arrow which she knew would fly a little differently. This time she overcorrected slightly and arrow hit the center slightly to the other the other side. "No." Emma sighed in frustration.

"Relax." Snow came over and put her hand on Emma's shoulders. She tried to refrain from shaking her head. To most Emma's shots would be perceived as dead on. Even she would be pleased with that accuracy at such a distance. But clearly her daughter was used to perfection "You are letting your frustrations get to your head. You need to make each shot fresh. If you do good on the previous shot forget it, it's in the past. But if you do poorly on a shot, the next one is a new chance that has nothing to do with the past. Clear your mind and take your shot."

"Ok." Emma nodded. She closed her eyes, clearing her mind as Snow suggested. She opened her eyes and shook her head. She took a deep breath and knocked another arrow. Finally Emma drew the bow and let the arrow fly. Emma gave a small smirk as the arrow his dead center.

"Excellent." Snow applauded.

"This bow is just a little more flexible than I'm used to." Emma shrugged. "Actually it's probably made of a more luxurious material than I'm used to."

"I like the rougher bows too." Snow smiled.

"They just feel more natural." Emma agreed. "But there is something so incredible about this type of bow. It is smooth and deceptively flexible but has a surprising rebound for the wood."

"There is something rather appealing about that material. The typical bows are more practical but its fun to use such an elaborate one sometimes." Snow said.

"I just need to get used to it." Emma shook her head. She loaded the arrow again and pulled it back.

"Hold on a second." Snow spoke up.

"Yes?" Emma lowered to bow, looking at Snow.

"Draw your bow again but don't shoot." Snow instructed.

"Ok." Emma seemed confused but did as she was told. She drew her bow, waiting for further instruction.

Snow came up behind her daughter. She gently took hold of her daughters elbow and lowered it slightly. "Let go."

Emma let her breath out slowly and did as she was told. The arrow shot through the air. It hit the target dead on, splitting the other arrow down the middle. Emma grinned but seemed mostly unsurprised by the shot.

"Emma." Snow said in shock. "That was incredible."

"You helped me adjust my elbow for this type of bow." Emma pointed out.

"But you aimed it." Snow argued. "And that was a perfect shot."

"Thank you." Emma blushed. "But you're a great shot too." Emma gestured to Snows multiple bulls-eyes. "I guess I see where my talent comes from." She looked of into the distance and then back at Snow. "Want to see something cool?"

"What?" Snow raised an eyebrow.

Emma pointed into the distance. "Do you see that basket of apples over in the orchard?"

"Yes." Snow still seemed confused.

"Watch." Emma grinned. She aimed her bow up into the eye at an angle and drew it back. She let the arrow fly, arching through the air. It shot through the top of the center apple, piercing it dead on.

"Emma!" Snow gasped.

"Just a little party trick." Emma shrugged.

"That was incredible." Snow breathed. "You are extraordinarily talented.

"I take pride in my archery skills." Emma said.

"I can see that." Snow nodded. "But to have that accuracy at that distance? That is absolutely amazing."

"Thanks." Emma blushed. "Well like I said, must be genetic."

"But it was your practice and training that got you to this point." Snow complimented. "It's clear your dedication and work ethic are leaps and bounds above most individuals."

"I'm sure you know how to instill work ethic in others." Emma said.

"To be completely honest I wish your brother had more of that work ethic." Snow admitted. "Your brother could have the talent if would just dedicate himself to his studies more."

"Does he not take it seriously enough?" Emma asked.

"I believe he is more interested in the luxurious perks of being royalty than the more tedious duties." Snow explained

"He finds this tedious?" Emma asked in shock. "Shooting is such a release from learning etiquette and diplomatic policy."

"He's not a fan of that either." Snow shook her head. "He is under the assumption that because of his position he can act however he pleases and others must cater to his will."

"And that is something you are ok with?" Emma asked slowly.

"Not really." Snow put her hand to her head. "It has been difficult for us to deal with him because we don't want to push him away. But it is something we need to be better at. He might be unhappy with us for the time being but he will thank us for it eventually, I hope."

Emma was not sure of what to say. "That cannot be an easy position to be in."

"It is not." Snow agreed. "But sometimes being a parent is about doing the hard things."

"So what does he actually enjoy doing?" Emma asked.

"Sword fighting." Snow answered.

"That does not surprise me." Emma grinned. "Sword fighting is a very manly pursuit and has a lot more glory associated with it."

"I think the glory is appealing to him." Snow agreed. "But I also believe he wants to be like his father."

"Is he good?" Emma asked.

"He definitely has talent." Snow said. "But he needs to be a little more dedicated to his sword fighting. But I think he will be. He wants to make James proud more than anything."

"That's got to be hard." Emma sympathized.

"James will always be proud of William." Snow looked surprised by Emma's comment. "He is his son."

"But you just said there are parts of Will you wished were different." Emma pointed out. "I'm sure James agrees with that to some extent and I highly doubt Will is oblivious to that fact. Maybe that is why he acts the way he does. Because he believes he cannot achieve the standard you have set for him."

Snow nodded slowly as she took in what Emma was saying. "You are an extremely wise young lady."

"Thank you." Emma blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear, a nervous habit. She looked up and noticed Snow smiling nostalgically at her. "What?"

"Hm?" Snow seemed startled from whatever internal monologue she had been in.

"You're staring." Emma said.

"Oh I'm sorry it's just." Snow shrugged. "I can't help but notice how you have some of her mannerisms still."

"Her mannerisms." Emma shook her head.

"Huh?" Snow looked confused.

"You said her." Emma repeated.

"I … I didn't mean to." Snow apologized. "It's just sometimes I see you as two different people, the younger version of you and this version. You have similarities but you are so different too."

"But she's the one you really love." Emma said.

"Emma no." Snow protested. "Of course not. I love you so much."

"But the younger version of me if the one you truly love. The little girl you held and knew you loved from the moment she entered the world." Emma tried to hold back her tears. "And I can't compare, but how did I ever stand a chance? She is the perfect little girl that everyone loved, that was perfect, that you wish I still was."

"Emma I made one mistake." Snow sighed.

"But it hasn't been just once." Emma cut Snow off. "You keep slipping and referring to the younger version of me as her, as another person. We are the same person. There is no her, its me. It is as if you want me to be that six-year-old little girl again, but I cannot. I have grown and changed. But that is what happens when you grow up. That little girl, she's gone and she's not coming back. Clearly I am not the daughter you wanted, despite what you say. I'm sorry." Emma dropped her bow and began to walk away.

"Emma wait." Snow's voice was distraught as she called after her daughter.

"No." Emma held up her hand without turning around.

"Please listen to me." Snow begged.

"Just leave me alone." Emma quickened her pace, leaving her mother standing alone in the shooting range.

Snow stood still, shocked by what had just happened. The day had been going so well. She felt as if she was truly making progress with Emma, but all of that had been ruined by one slip of the tongue. As much as she wanted to tell Emma her thought process was wrong, there was a part of her that could not deny that part of what Emma said was true. She loved the beautiful young woman who was walking away from her, but she missed her little girl dearly, the little girl who had loved her more than anything, the little girl who had looked to her for comfort and protection. This new Emma didn't need her for that and Snow missed being needed. But she had to focus on what was in the present, and that was her sixteen-year-old daughter. Snow needed to accept that reality before she lost her completely.


"So this is the lake I've heard so much about." Emma said as she swung down off her horse and surveyed the crystal clear azure waters of the lagoon in front of them. It was hidden away and it had taken some time for the two of them to get there. But James had been excited about his daughter seeing it and Emma could now see why. A beautiful waterfall poured into the waters below. "It's stunning."

"It was our place." James walked up next to his daughter. "Before everything happened.

"I can see why." Emma smiled. "How did you find it?"

"Well the two of us accidentally stumbled upon it once." James explained.

"We found it together?" This revelation tugged at something faint in Emma's heart. It was strange to have a slight feeling of nostalgia for something she couldn't even remember.

"We did indeed." James confirmed.

"Do others know about it?" Emma asked.

"Your mother of course." James said. "You were so excited about it you had to tell everyone. She was the first person you ran to tell."

"We were close?" Emma asked.

"You and I?" James asked. "Or you and your mother?"

"Both." Emma shrugged.

"You had a special relationship with both of us. You loved us and we loved you." James explained. "You definitely had me wrapped around your finger. And you had this adventurous streak that I absolutely adored, a streak I see you haven't lost which makes me happy."

"You like that I do stupid things?" Emma asked.

"I like that you would rather be out here taking chances than locked up in the palace." James explained. "Though I would prefer you did not endanger your life."

"I can't make any promises." Emma grinned.

"And that's what scares me." James laughed. His face became a little more serious. "You had a very close relationship with your mother too. You went to her for everything. Little problems you would try to handle by yourself but the moment something became hard or scary, it was her you turned to for comfort and wisdom. You wanted to be just like her. It was a very special relationship to her."

"So that's why she's having such a hard time letting it go." Emma muttered.

"You're having a rough time with her aren't you?" James looked at his daughter.

"Is it obvious?" Emma looked slightly ashamed

"I wouldn't say it's obvious." James said slowly. "But your mother has talked to me about it. She's… well she just wants so badly to connect with you. She loves you and for ten years all she has wanted is for you to be back in her arms. I don't think she ever thought it would be this difficult to reconnect with you. It hurts her to feel so distant from you. She wants her little girl back."

"That's the problem." Emma cast her eyes downward. "I can't be the girl she wants me to be. I'm not a princess… at least not in the way she wants. I wasn't raised in a court with proper etiquette to be a Queen. Let's face it, I'm not the girl I would have been had I grown up here."

"Maybe not." James admitted. "But knowing your independent streak I can't see you being a perfect, soft spoken and reserved princess. And I wouldn't want you that way. Emma I love that you are independent and strong. You're like your mother in that way. To be honest, I don't think your mother would really want the daughter she's made up in her mind."

"But I'm right here." Emma sighed. "She doesn't have to make me up. I know she doesn't approve of the magic part of me and she's hurt she didn't get to see me grow up, but this is who I am. I'm not a textbook princess. I don't know court etiquette inside and out. I can barely even tell you the surrounding countries and their rulers. I didn't grow up in this world. I don't feel like I belong."

"Emma." James took his daughters hand. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yea I guess." Emma shrugged.

"I didn't grow up in this world either." James told his daughter.

"What?" Emma looked surprised. "But you're… king."

"I grew up on a farm with my mother. I was a shepherd." James explained. "My twin brother was given to Rumplestiltskin in a deal to save our farm."

"A what?" Emma's eyes grew wide."

"My mother was desperate." James said sadly. "Not a day went by when she didn't regret it. But he went to live with the King and Queen of our land. It seemed like the chance of a lifetime. But then he died and our kingdom was out of money. King George had promised King Midas that his son, a great warrior, would battle a dragon that was terrorizing his kingdom. They needed a replacement, a figure head to pretend to slay the dragon for appearances. I was supposed to hide out while the knights killed the dragon."

"Let me guess." Emma smirked. "You didn't just stand around."

"The other knights didn't last very long. I pulled one to safety." James said. "Your mother would say I have a hero complex. I learned how to use a sword that day as I fought that dragon. I thought that would be the end of it. But King George had different plans. King Midas wanted me to marry his daughter. King George wanted to unite the kingdoms. He made me take my brothers life. He told me if I ever went back, if I ever spoke to my mother again, he would kill her."

"That's horrible." Emma shook her head. "But he was… well your brothers father."

"Exactly." James nodded. "And I wasn't my brother. There's a reason he is not around. I could never be who he wanted me to be. I didn't want to fall into someone else's plan for my life with no say in it. I understand what you're going through. But the difference is your mother is nothing like George. George didn't love me. But your mother, she loves you more than anything else in this world."

Emma looked away, uncomfortable with the conversation. "So do you ever wish it hadn't happened? I mean that's an awful thing, never being allowed to see your mother again. Would you take it back if you could?"

"Never." James shook his head. "Because although that cost me one of the most important people in my life, it gave me more than I could have ever imagined. Had my mother not made that deal, had my brother not died and King George forced me to take his place, I would have never been in that carriage the day your mother ambushed me. I would have never met the love of my life. I wouldn't have my family. I wouldn't have you. Whether he meant to or not, George gave me the greatest gift in this world. That's the funny thing about awful situations. The world seems so bleak and you can't possibly find the good in the moment, but you have to wait to see the beauty that will come of it. Your mother's step-mother Regina? There has been many a time where I wished she didn't exist. Then Snow would be safe and happy, not constantly worrying about her life and family. But the part she played in Snow's life, it forced her into hiding. Without that she would have never found her way to me. Often times in life it's the worst things that bring about the most amazing experiences in your life."

"So what about me?" Emma asked. "My disappearance."

"What about it?" James asked.

"What's the good in that?" Emma elaborated. "What amazing thing has come out of ten years without me?"

"I can't see that yet." James admitted.

"Would you reverse that if you had a chance?" Emma asked.

"In a heartbeat." James said with complete honesty.

"But you just said…" Emma trailed off.

"I know." James acknowledged. "But I also know you are one of the most important people in my life. You mean more to me than I could ever explain and I missed watching you grow up. There is not a day that goes by that doesn't pain me. I may have lost the final years with my mother, but I got to grow up with her, as Snow did with her father. But you? We didn't get the chance to watch you become this amazing young woman you are today. I would give up anything, no matter the cost, to get that time back. Even if it cost something amazing. Missing those years, it has been the worst thing I have ever had to endure."

Emma bit her lip and tried to blink back her tears. "You suck." Emma shook her head.

"Why?" James smiled, warmed by his daughter's emotion.

"Because you're making me cry." Emma laughed and wiped a tear from her face. "That's not something I like to do."

I don't exactly like seeing you cry either my darling." James reached over and wiped a stray tear from Emma's cheek. "But knowing it comes from love, as a result of my love for you, well that is pretty special."

"Can I tell you a secret now?" Emma asked.

"Of course." James smiled warmly.

Emma put her hand over her father's, which was still on her face. "I kind of like having a father."

"Well I love having a daughter." James gently kissed Emma's forehead. "And I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world."

"So." Emma pulled back and looked at the gorgeous lake. "Should we go for a swim?"

"You're not wearing the proper attire." James pointed out.

"Oh I think I have something." Emma grinned. She removed her tunic and riding pants leaving her under clothing on. She ran her hands over her clothes with a flourish and the changed into a completely new outfit made out of a different material. "The beauties of magic. If you want I can keep you from getting your clothing wet." James looked uncomfortable. "Oh come on. Let me show you magic is not bad. It can be fun, and useful and helpful."

"We'll see." James said.

"Your loss." Emma shrugged and began to walk around the lagoon, heading towards the rocks.

"Where are you going?" James called after her.

"To the top." Emma pointed to the waterfall as she began to climb the rocks to it.

"Be careful." James warned. "Emma that is…"

"Extremely dangerous?" Emma finished for him. "I think I've heard that warning before. They exhausted it a long time ago in Altair. Now they just pray I think."

"You're joking right?" James felt his heartbeat quicken as he watched his daughter precariously balance on the rocks.

"Partly." Emma grinned.

"What are you going to do now?" James called as Emma perched at the top of the waterfall, standing so most of her weight was on her toes.

"I'm going to dive in." Emma called.

"What?" James felt his heart stop. "Emma are you insane?"

"Relax I've done it before." Emma waved him off.

"Emma that could kill you." James called in a stern voice. "I swear if you jump…"

"Magic remember?" Emma reminded him as the dove off the rocks and into the water below with a form that showed she had indeed done it many times before.

James felt his heart in his throat and he didn't breathe for what felt like forever until his daughter finally surfaced, laughing. He let out a deep sigh and put his hand to his head. "You are going to give me a heart attack."

"You need to learn to trust me." Emma said as she laid back, allowing the water to hold her up. "I'm not going to kill myself purposely. I know what I'm doing."

"That doesn't mean I'm going to stop worrying." James pointed out.

"Stop panicking and join me." Emma called. "The water feels absolutely amazing."

"Ok." James relented. His daughter still held power over him after all these years. He simply could not say no to her.

"And put those one." Emma waved her hands and a pair of shorts in the same material she was wearing appeared in front of him. "Trust me."

"What is this?" James asked curiously as he picked up the foreign material.

"I discovered it on the textile islands during one of my journeys." Emma explained. "It's a special material that wicks water and dries extraordinarily fast. It is very convenient for swimming."

"If you say so." James shrugged. He disappeared behind the tree and reappeared a minute later, wearing the shorts. "They feel strange."

"Well it's the first time you've worn them so that makes sense." Emma explained. She gave a gentle nudge to the water in front of her, causing the water near James to shoot out at him. "Now come in."

James let out a laugh at his daughter. Even though he was extraordinarily uncomfortable with her magic, it gave him joy to see how happy she seemed to be. Outside of Blue and the other fairies all magic he had ever been exposed to had been evil. But he could never imagine his daughter as evil. Maybe her magic wasn't such a bad thing. If anyone could use magic for good, it was his little girl. "All right I'm coming in." James ran and cannonballed into the lake, sending a wall of water over his daughter.

"Hey." Emma called as she wiped the water from her face.

"You were already soaked." James grinned as he popped up, pushing his hair from his face. "Hey these pants are pretty great. I don't feel like they are weighing me down at all."

"I know right." Emma smiled. "This fabric is amazing. I don't know why everyone doesn't use it."

"Probably because most people are not aware of its existence." James pointed out.

Emma looked pensive. "You have a very valid point. I guess not everyone has traveled to the textile islands."

"Where are the textile islands?" James asked.

"They are a group of islands in the Irisus Sea." Emma said simply.

"Where is the Irisus Sea?" James looked confused.

Emma tried to figure out how to best explain it to her father. "It's in a different realm called Illyria, where Daniel is from. Only it's on the opposite side of the realm from Atora. It's a sea full of groups of islands that specialize in all sorts of luxuries. They are incredibly beautiful. It's like paradise."

"Have you visited a lot of realms?" James asked slowly.

"I guess you could say that." Emma shrugged. She could tell the topic made her father uncomfortable. "We got to travel a lot in Altair, and some trips were unauthorized but we went anyway. It was fun and we got to see so many fascinating places. All of the worlds are so amazing and beautiful. I can't imagine a life where I don't get to travel and see them."

"So you can't imagine a life here." James said.

"Oh no, I didn't say that." Emma back-peddled. "I just can't imagine a life where I'm not allowed to leave here. I'm adventurous and want to explore and see everything. To me life's not worth it if you aren't taking chances, because that is when the most amazing things happen."

James smiled in spite of himself. He knew his daughter didn't realize it but so much of what she was saying hit home. He understood what she was saying, but his role as king, husband and father had kept him from making some of the more risky decisions. He didn't like to admit it but he had lost much of the adventurous spirit he saw in Emma. He had simply seen too much, he knew what taking risks could result in and he had so much to lose. And he knew more than most what that loss felt like. "It sounds nice."

"It is." Emma's smile widened. "All the different worlds have so much to offer. You should come with me sometime."

James recognized that the fact his daughter was inviting him to come with her was a big deal, but he still knew what he had to say. "Oh Em, that sounds incredible, but I have a kingdom to run. I can't just run off."

"It's called a vacation." Emma teased. "Don't you ever take one?"

"Yes but in the kingdom or in this realm." James said. "It's complicated Em and there's magic involved and… it just can't happen." James heart broke as he watched his daughters face fall. He hadn't meant for what he said to come out so harsh, but he had to make her realize that the risks of magic were just too great for him to get involved in. It had cost him so much already.

"Oh." Emma looked down at the surface of the water and nodded. "Well I'll just have to tell you stories about them. Maybe I can bring things back."

"That would be nice." James nodded. He could tell he had hurt Emma's feelings and he wanted to fix it. When she was younger this had never been an issue for them. He had always known what to say or what to do to make things better. He could always calm her down, no matter the situation. His little girl had trusted him implicitly and adored him and he would have done anything for and she knew it. James was starting to realize that maybe that wasn't so true anymore. Yes he would do anything to keep her safe and protect her but there were parts of her that scared him. And that was something he understood Emma was aware of. "Hey there." James gently touched Emma's chin. "There's no long faces allowed today. Especially not around such beauty."

"It is a beautiful place." Emma looked around. "It would be a shame to waste it by being sad."

"I wasn't really talking about the lagoon." James smiled at his daughter.

Emma's cheeks flushed and she glanced down. "If that's the case then I would never allowed to be sad."

"I wouldn't mind that." James smiled.

Emma shook her head. "You're just saying that because you're my father."

"It doesn't make it any less true." James said. "You have your mothers beauty my dear. And I always believed she was the most beautiful woman to ever grace this or any world."

"You always believed?" Emma picked up on her father's use of past tense.

"She is still just as beautiful as she was then." James looked into his daughter's eyes. "But I think she would agree, you definitely give her competition." Emma gave a small laugh and shook her head. "What you don't agree? Do you honestly not see your own beauty Emma?"

"Beauty has never really been an important factor to me." Emma shrugged. "I mean it can be an asset. I've found that the more physically attractive one is, the more they tend to be deemed trustworthy and the less of a threat they are determined to be. But other than that it's just superficial."

"I guess it is a good thing you are not obsessed with beauty." James laughed. "I know a couple of our dear friends daughters that are. They'd rather spend time doing their hair and getting new dresses than learn how to fight with swords or use a bow."

"That sounds absolutely awful." Emma lamented.

"My thoughts exactly." James laughed. "It seems you inherited more of my traits than I originally believed."

"Snow is obsessed with vanity?" Emma asked skeptically.

"No." James shook his head. "But she does have a weakness for beautiful dresses."

"I guess it makes sense." Emma shrugged. "Deep down there is part of every girl who wants to feel pretty."

"So my compliment did mean something to you." James grinned.

Emma laughed and splashed her father. "I guess."

"Hey." James splashed his daughter back.

"That was my eye!" Emma gasped and sent water cascading over her father.

"No fair." James laughed at his daughter's antics. He grabbed Emma around the waist before she had the chance to get away.

"No." Emma gasped through her laughter.

James tossed his daughter across the lagoon. She wasn't as small as she used to be but he was still more than strong enough to get her a good distance.

"Seriously?" Emma popped up and brushed her hair from her face. She splashed more water at her father.

"Do you really want to start this again?" James warned.

"Emma's eyes narrowed playfully. "I could have won if I wanted to."

"Oh really?" James asked.

"You would be surprised as to what I'm capable of with water." Emma shrugged.

"What do you mean?" James asked.

"Nothing." Emma shook her head quickly. "It would just freak you out. Trust me. Better not to talk about it."

"All right then." James knew instantly his daughter had been talking about magic." We should get going my dear. Your mother will be wondering where we are. It's almost time for dinner."

"Good." Emma swam over to the edge. "Because I am starving."

"You love food as much as your brother." James shook his head.

"I can imagine I love it more." Emma wrung out her hair. "We were taught to eat as much as we needed but not over indulge. It was how we would be at our peak of performance. But given the chance to indulge. Oh I love it so much."

"Emma." James said. "What exactly do I do with this?"

"Oh just change back." Emma waved her hand over her body, returning to her underclothes. She grabbed her riding pants and tunic and pulled them back on. "I'll take care of the rest."

"I kind of want to keep it." James admitted.

"Go ahead." Emma nodded as she pulled her boots back on. She pulled her wet hair into a braid as she waited for her father to return.

"Ready?" James asked as he put the shorts into his satchel and mounted his horse.

"Yup." Emma swung onto her own horse. "Race you!" Emma kicked her horse and urged him towards the castle.

"That was cheap." James called

"As long as I win." Emma called over her shoulder. She turned back forward, her braid whipping in the wind. James grinned as he followed after his daughter. It was in moments like this he could pretend nothing had happened. That these past ten years without her hadn't existed. That she was still his perfect, innocent little girl unmarred by the evils of the world. But deep down, he knew that wasn't true.