Ch. 9: Unification

For the first few minutes, nobody spoke. They clung to one another in breathless wonder. Emma was squeezed between her parents, their hearts beating like the wings of captured birds. They couldn't touch one another enough. Emma felt her father' hand on her face and her mother's stroking her arm.

When they could finally bear the thought of the minutest separation, they moved apart to look at one another.

"Emma," her mother's eyes move avidly over her face, drinking in her features. "My baby." Her eyes flicker to her husband's tremulous with affection and grief.

David cuddled Emma to him, pressing his lips to her hair to kiss her. "Little girl, we've missed you so much."

Her parents hands did not stop caressing one another. David moved to kiss his wife, tenderness and need clashing.

Snow cupped his face with an unsteady hand then reached over to pull Emma into her lap. "Let me look at my baby," she murmured lovingly. She held Emma's face in both her hands and David cupped their heads in his large, warm hands. "You've gotten so big, such a big girl Emmy!" her voice broke with love and sorrow.

"You look so much like Mama," said her father lovingly, stroking her cheek with one finger. "So strong. So beautiful."

Emma gazed keenly at her parents and tried to speak. Instead, she began to cry. "Oh lovey, oh lovey," said her mother holding her tightly.

Her father winced as he tried to pull them both closer to him, weakened muscles frustrating his movements.

Snow must have sensed this because she moved even closer to him, and lay Emma between their bodies, pillowing her head on her husband's arm.

Emma's little body shuddered with sobs and she clung to her parents. Finally her voice squeaked out. "Never…leave me…again. Never. Please. Please. I missed you so much. I missed you. I missed you."

She felt her mother began to sob with her and her father's eyes were bright with tears. "We're so sorry Emma-love," her father managed. "We couldn't…it broke our hearts to send you away but we…"

Emma shook her head and gasped as she tried to speak. "I…understand. Understood. But you can't…do it again...can't! I…love…you…," overcome, she stopped trying to speak and let her mother rock her and rock her and rock her.

After some time, she didn't sleep but was in the muzzy, hazy place that happens after a hard cry. She heard her parents murmur, sometimes to her, sometimes to one another. They didn't stop holding her.

She was brought to attention when their tone of voice changed from heated whispers to something sharper.

"I can't leave Snow, my love. I'm so sorry. I'm weak. I think if I tried, I could make a furlong, but not much further," her father's voice sound shamed at this weakness.

"I understand that Charming. My gods, you've been unconscious for five years, but Emma and I can't leave you. Don't ask us to do that!" her mother's voice was full of pain.

"What other choice have we? I will stay here and get strong. You will take Emma back to your lodging and take care of her. We need to know how Emma has affected the curse and how the rest of our friends and subjects fare. We are not ready for an all-out war!" his accent tainted his speech lightly.

"We can hide," her mother's voice was stubborn. "There are woods here. I've done it before and I can do it again."

"Snow, Snow," her father's voice was both loving and exasperated. "It's unlike you to be so imprudent. What evil may lurk in the forest? What snares has Regina conjured? This is her land, her rule. Better for us to act ignorant and retain that advantage."

Her mother's voice broke. "I don't want us to be separated again. I don't want us to be apart. Not for a little while, not ever."

Emma pushed herself up to a seated position, mimicking her parents. "I don't want to leave you Papa!"

Her father reached for her and her mother lifted her onto his lap. "Emma-love, it's only for a short time. We'll act as if we are still cursed. Then when it's safe, we'll come back together." He lifted her chin to meet his eyes, gazing at her, then her mother with utter faith. "We will take back our people, and return to our kingdom."

Snow sighed and Emma leaned into her mother, unconsciously giving David an identical look.

David smiled at them fondly, then looked at his wife in wordless pleading.

Snow looked at him meaningfully, firmly, then switched her gaze to her daughter. "We will still find a way to visit Papa, and keep an eye on him. We'll just be sneaky about it."

Emma's smile matched her father's. "We have to. He'll get in all sorts of trouble without us."

David reached out to tickle her sides lightly. Both he and Snow closed their eyes when they heard their little girl's joyful giggles.

Snow sobered, then caressed her husband's cheek with her hand. "I'm afraid Mr. Stevens will come looking for us soon. It's unwise for us to be here when you waken."

David nodded, the longing palatable in his eyes. "We'll see one another soon," he reassured himself as well as his family.

Emma clung to him as he kissed her. "We'll see you soon," she repeated, trying for the same certainty.

It was Snow who calmed their fears, by leaning into him and giving him a lingering, promising kiss. "We found you," she whispered in his ear. "True Love has no limits or restrictions. We cannot ever really be apart. Be safe, sweet husband. We will see you very, very soon."

David closed his eyes, his breath coming in a relieved gasp. If Snow believed it, it would happen. All of his faith was with her.

Snow kissed him again, murmured "I love you," and took Emma's hand within her own.

Emma took a deep breath, willing herself not to cry. She wanted to leave her papa with a smile, so he could recall it when he was feeling sad. "Bye, Papa. I love you."

Her father's smile broke slowly across his face, like the sun through the clouds. "I love you too Emma. Always and forever."

Emma slid her knapsack, with the storybook safely inside, across her shoulders, and followed her mother out the door.

When the door closed, David closed his eyes as his tears wet the pillow. He prayed to whomever might be listening that his family be kept safe…and returned to him soon.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

When they were at the ground floor, Emma was amazed as she watched her mother transform back to Mary Margaret (as close as her mother could approximate anyway). She greeted Mr. Stevens blandly, yet pleasantly and said they were "looking forward to working with the staff further in an effort to teach children the importance and value of compassion."

Personally, Emma thought that sounded a lot like her mama and less like the school teacher, but she refrained from mentioning this to her mother.

It was pretty obvious to both of them that Mr. Stevens was still Mr. Stevens. As they walked back home, Snow mentioned that she thought he might have been a merchant in a nearby village, but she wasn't sure.

Once they were in the apartment, Snow lost some of her self-assurance and sank onto the sofa. Emma immediately clambered on her lap.

"Are you okay Mama?" she asked patting her mother's hands nervously.

Snow gave a rather perfunctory smile. "Yes darling. I have you, don't I?"

Emma gazed at her steadily.

"I'm a little overwhelmed, that's all. There's a lot to think about and there's so many people to check on. Red…and Granny! They're, they're okay, right? Red is Ruby and Granny is…" she frowned thoughtfully, "Granny, right?"

"Mrs. Lucas," Emma supplied helpfully.

"Right. And Grumpy. Oh Grumpy. He's…" this time her mother's nose wrinkled "he's that mean-tempered drunk, isn't he? That's terrible. Poor Grumpy!"

"I didn't really see him," admitted Emma. "There's so many people here. And some of them look and act so different that it's hard to tell." She paused and looked down at her lap to trace the lines on her uniform. "I'd know Grumpy though. I miss him."

Snow immediately cuddled her. "He'll have missed you too, darling. He doted on you. As did his brothers. And Red…and Granny," she sighed a little, then visible shook herself. The look she gave her daughter was full of tenderness. "There's so many questions I have for you. So many things I want to know…"

Emma nodded happily, then her face fell a bit. "But I feel bad for Papa. I feel like I should save my stories so both of you can hear them at the same time."

Snow nodded her understanding. "I can see why you would feel that is the right thing."

Instead of breaking into conversation, they both sat quietly. By the far away look in her eyes, Emma had a feeling her mother shared her thoughts.

"Do you think they found Papa awake yet?" Emma asked.

"Probably." Her mother held her more closely.

Emma looked gravely at her mother. She needed to make her mother laugh. That would make things a little better. "At least when you see Granny, you can say you aren't breaking the Rule anymore," she said with a coaxing smile.

Snow broke out in a genuine grin. "No we aren't, you little malapert. I still cannot believe you did that to us."

The Rule had been instituted when she was three. One day her mother had left Emma at the castle to aide her father in pursuit of some of Regina's soldiers. Possible even Regina herself. Emma was extremely unhappy at the abruptness of the departure, and outraged that both her parents had left her.

Grumpy, her favorite playmate and a near-constant companion, tried his best to cheer her up, but she refused to be placated. Disconsolately she wandered the castle in the pursuit of solution to this grievous injustice. She came upon Granny, who generally could be found either polishing her crossbow…or knitting. Once she found her, Emma knew she had an answer to her problem.

"What's wrong, little one?" Granny asked.

Emma felt her lips form into a pout. "Mama and Papa left me. They went after the bad peoples."

Granny stroked her hair consolingly.

"They just left me!" she explained, tears forming. "What if the bad mens hurted them?" She curled into Granny's lap, not even having to feign her worry.

"I'll take care of it sweetheart," Granny said firmly, patting her back. After feeding the tiny princess peppermints and telling her stories, Emma felt much better.

When her parents returned from their adventure, Granny asked to speak to them before they even saw Emma. Emma, who had been trailing after Granny, waited patiently by the wooden doors. She didn't hear raised voices but that didn't mean they weren't in trouble. She folded her arms. And she didn't feel sorry for them. Not one bit. They left her. She heard Granny's raised voice through the door. They…well…maybe she felt a little sorry for them. Emma bit her lip.

Auntie Red appeared in the hallway. "Where are your parents?"

Emma pointed at the closed door. "In with Granny. They both lefted me!" she said, hoping to garner more sympathy.

"Oh dear," said Red, a smile barely twitching at the corners of her mouth. "And they're with Granny now?"

"Yes," said Emma nodding her head emphatically. She was appeased when her aunt came to pick her up. She buried her face into the familiar red cloak.

When her parents emerged from the room, Snow's cheeks were faintly flushed and her father wore a look of consternation.

Red chuckled low in her throat. "The two of you are in trouble."

Emma's parents managed to give her looks that were simultaneously irritated and embarrassed, softening when they looked at their daughter.

Emma lifted her head from Red's shoulder. She put her little hands on her hips and glared, her lower lip forming a pout. "You frightened me!" she declared, looking petulant but distress lacing her words. Her parents gently took her from Red and covered her in kisses.

"Emma-love, we didn't mean to frighten you," said her papa.

"We're sorry darling, truly," said her mother.

Emma couldn't retain her anger at them, instead she buried herself into their arms.

"It will not happen again," said her father. "Granny…reminded us that you should always have one of us near you."

"For many reasons," muttered Red clearly, raising her brow significantly. Snow's blush darkened.

"Good," said Emma. "I knew Granny would say the right words."

"Did you…" David cleared his throat incredulously. "Did you…tell on us?"

"Yes," declared Emma simply. As she went to thank Granny, she heard Auntie Red laughing.

Emma giggled, happy to see her mother smile. "I was worried. I wasn't trying to be a brat," she assured her mother.

"We knew that darling. Your papa and I were trying to be too many things to too many people. But our role as your parents is the most cherished."

Emma nodded, feeling a bit shy at the pride and love she heard in her mother's voice. She let herself relax in her mother's arms.

"Emma. I know you don't want Papa to feel left out, but I need to know more about how you got here. And I…I need to know that you are…undamaged from your ordeals."

Emma knew her mother was trying to be delicate, but she could feel her mother's anxiety in the tension of her arms. She thought carefully. She couldn't not talk to her mother. There were too many things that needed to be said. Her father would understand. "I know what to tell you. It's probably going to be a long story though."

Her mother nodded and gave her another squeeze. "I know. How about I make us some hot chocolate?"

Emma smiled, "that sounds perfect."

Author's Notes: I know that Granny taking "the royals" to task is unusual, but so was Queen Eva's canon response to Johanna. Since David and Snow were orphans when they took over the kingdom, I decided they needed Granny to act as their de-facto parent once and awhile.