A/N: Just under a week… sorta quick update? Lol.

I won't blab on like I normally do. I just want to take a moment to thank all you lovely readers and reviewers. This story has my heart and soul. I'm gonna give it all I got! Hope you all continue to enjoy!

To answer a review left by a guest, sure! Name suggestions are welcomed! Though I think I have one in mind, but I'd love to hear what you all think about it! :D

Down the Rabbit Hole

Chapter Ten: Moments

David held a large smile as he rushed up to the loft, taking the stairs by two. But when he reached Emma's door, he stopped. He took a breath, told himself that he could do this. He could sooth his daughter's worries. He could help ease her frenzied nerves… he could be her dad.

After a firm nod at his thoughts, David raised a fist to knock on the door, but stopped when he heard coughing. He's brows knit in confusion when he heard a gagging sound.

"Emma?" David called, concern in his voice as he pushed the partially open door just enough to look inside. He frowned when he saw the room to be empty. "Emma?" he called again while walking inside.

The bathroom door was closed. He could hear sounds of his daughter being sick on the other side. He didn't know what to do. Knock on the door? She would just say she was fine; tell him to go. But he didn't want to go. He wanted to help. He wanted to talk to her.

David continued arguing with himself for not another moment before he heard running water. The sink. David sighed in relief. That had to be a good sign.

A minute later, Emma came from the bathroom wearing a sour face. When she spotted David standing in the middle of the room, a look of confusion took her face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to… I just wanted to check on you," David stuttered.

"Morning sickness," Emma grumbled in complaint while walking to the bed then sitting down. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I can make you some tea."

"Thanks, but it's okay. I need to call Neal, before it's too late," she said while reaching for her cell.

"Won't he be on his way here soon?"

"Exactly… we can talk another day," she said without care.

"No, Emma, wait," David said while taking a seat next to her.

The blond frowned. "Let me guess. You're on the Neal train too."

David couldn't help a small smile. "I'm on the, I- want-my-daughter-to-be-happy-train."

"And you think Neal will make me happy?" she droned. "Or are you just trying to keep me away from Hook?"

"You think I'm interested in Hook? Emma, I'm a married man."

The blond couldn't help a quiet laugh.

David smiled, happy to have said something that made Emma's lips curve to a smile. "I hear I'm going to have a granddaughter."

"Yeah," Emma said, her eyes wandering to her stomach, "looks that way."

"Henry will be happy to find out."

"He knows I'm pregnant. I told him yesterday. He's thrilled, to say the least."

David smiled further. "I heard Neal was happy about the news too."

Emma narrowed her eyes at her father. "I know what you're doing. You're trying to distract me long enough that I don't call Neal and tell him not to come over."

"Possibly," David admitted, his lips grinning.

"Well, it's not gonna work," she said stubbornly while focusing back on her phone.

Speaking quickly and urgently, David said, "Emma, life isn't just about being ready for the next fight. You have to let yourself have moments."

"Moments?" she challenged.

"Yes," David continued, glad to have her attention. "Life is made up of moments. Good ones and bad ones, but they're all worth living."

"Good moments don't really happen to me. It's the bad ones that keep coming my way. Don't have time for them anyway. I have to stay focused. What happened to Henry… I can't- I won't," she corrected, "let something like that happen to him again."

Shaking his head, David said, "But so do good things. If you just stay focused on the bad, you'll miss out on the good," he explained. " Look at what's happening right now, Emma," he went on to continued, his voice soft, his lips pulled to a smile. "You're giving your mother and I a granddaughter. Henry will be a big brother… those are good things, Emma. Good moments."

She wanted to argue further. She wanted to say that while her pregnancy may be good for everyone else, it was terrifying for her. But she held her tongue, too tired to divulge her true feelings.

Seeing the look on her face- whatever mental struggle she was going through- David cut in, saying, "Emma, you've experienced more than enough bad moments, more than any person should have… what you went through growing up…" his words fell faint, David sighing at the thought of his daughter's past. "That wasn't the life you were supposed to have… but this, right here, right now, the chance to talk with Neal, that could be a good moment... You've had too many bad ones. I don't want you to pass up at the chance at having something good."

Emma's stare drifted to her tummy. She couldn't help her hand from covering her unborn daughter.

After a moment of thought, Emma said, "what makes you so sure that talking with Neal could be a good moment?"

"I can't be a hundred percent sure of anything. I wish I could… but you'll never know until you try, right?"

"That's all you got?"

David smiled. "What's the harm in talking? Unless he spits while he talks. Then it might not be such a good moment."

Emma laughed. David couldn't help a beaming smile. That was twice in the last few moments that he's made his daughter laugh. The thought filled his heart with joy.

"Okay, you win," Emma gave in, unable to take the smile from her face. "I'll talk to him."

xoxo

The knock on the front door jolted Emma from her worrisome thoughts, causing her to nearly jump from her seat.

"You okay?" Snow asked.

Emma nodded while standing to put her red jacket on.

With a soft smile, Snow went to the door. When she opened it, Henry zoomed inside, barreling into his mother.

"Hey, kid," Emma stuttered, an amused smile on her face as she tried to keep her balance.

"Oh, sorry, don't fall," Henry apologized, a frown on his face as he stepped back.

Emma smiled further. "Don't be sorry," Emma she said while zipping up her jacket.

"You know about the necklace. Grams has it. I was with her when she got it. Did you use it? Do you know what you're having?" Henry fired quickly before turning to his grandmother. "Does she know?"

Snow looked to her daughter who gave a nod. With that Snow said, "you're going to have a little sister, Henry."

"A girl?" Henry asked with a smile, his head whipping back to Emma.

"A girl?" Neal echoed, his voice filled with wonder and amazement.

Emma looked up, meeting Neal's eyes for the first time. "Yeah," she said, her voice barely loud enough for anyone to hear.

"We're having a girl?" he asked in awe while walking towards her.

"Come on, Henry, let's get your stuff unpacked," Snow said while ushering her grandson to the staircase.

Emma looked to her mother and son, showing them a small, uneasy smile.

"Mom? Are you okay?" Henry asked.

"Yeah, kid," she said half-heartedly.

"Emma…" Neal started, a smile on his face. "a girl?"

Her voice quiet, Snow bent to Henry and said, "I think they need a moment."

Henry nodded in agreement, hesitating for a moment before following his grandmother up to the loft.

Now alone, Neal walked closer to Emma, hoping more than anything that she wouldn't step back. When she didn't, when she allowed him to put his hand on her stomach, he couldn't help a beaming smile. "A girl," he repeated in wonder.

"Neal," Emma called, needing his attention. He looked up, his brown eyes meeting her blue ones.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-" Neal went to pull his hand away, but Emma stopped him. Her eyes fell closed as she put her hand over his, holding his palm to her covered belly.

After a moment of silence, Emma said, "I, uh… I don't know… where do we go from here?" she asked, at a loss.

"How 'bout a walk?" Neal offered shyly. "Lunch at Granny's."

Life is made up of moments. Good ones and bad ones, but they're all worth living. Her father's voice rang through her head. Despite her fears, Emma nodded at Neal's suggestion.

The man smiled while walking towards the door. He opened it wide, his arm held out, gesturing for her to go first.

Emma rolled her eyes at his grand act of chivalry, though she couldn't wipe the grin from her face as she walked past him.

TBC…

Thoughts before you go? Please and thank you! And P.S, if you haven't already, check out my profile page for a link to a super cool OUAT Fan Fictions & Creations FB page! Hope to see you there! Thanks for reading!