Chapter 10

Storybrooke

He had been showing me around his house or our house as he called it. Finally he stopped in front of a door. I looked at him wondering why he was just standing there "Well open it."He encouraged.

I opened the door to see a room that felt like home. The carpet was a muggy blue covered with lily pads, just like the pond we had in the castle gardens. My favourite pass time was swimming in that pond. The walls had roses, lilies and tulips painted around the bottom and a blue cloudy sky full of birds higher up. There was a white wooden dresser diagonally taking up a corner of the room. I ran my fingers across the swans that encircled the mirror of the dresser. "How did you find it?"

"All the important things made it into this world, dearie." He explained.

"The chip cup?" I asked.

"It's safe" He replied sharply.

That was a clear sign to drop the subject. So I turned around to look at the four post bed instead. It was defiantly King size or bigger if that was possible. On the left beside table was an old fashion alarm clock, which would need updating. I like alarm clocks that are reliable not ancient. When I looked at the other bedside table I noticed it had two picture frames on it. I climbed over the bed to have a better look. There was a picture of Baelfire and me before mum took me away and one of dad and me after I found him again. I picked up the one of Baelfire and me. Dad sat down next to me and put his arm around me. "I miss him too dearie."

I could see him trying to hold back the tears as I asked "What happened to him?"

"I lost him" He kissed my hair.

I knew that it wasn't the time to push the matter farther. "Thanks, this room is perfect; like it was made for me."

"Well it was." He stated matter of factly.

I was shocked. "Y-y-you waited for me." I stuttered.

"Of course" He pulled me in tightly "You're my daughter, I'll always find you."

I pushed him away as I stood up "But you left!" I yelled at him "You said you'd be back in the morning and you never came back!"

He looked down at the floor "I couldn't, I wanted to, but I couldn't."

"Couldn't or wouldn't!" I growled.

"Couldn't!" His eyes pierced me with his sorrow and regret. "I was imprisoned because Ella didn't keep her side of the deal."

"Well that doesn't seem fair" then I remembered he was not just my dad but the Dark One "What deal?"

"I gave her a new life with a prince and all. The only thing I asked for was her... first born." He practically whispered the last two words.

"I was your first born, would you have given me up for a prince. Wait change that to princess." I glared.

"No" he mumbled. "But she did sign a contract that clearly stated she would have her prince in exchange for their first born."

"Did she read it?"

"No"

"Does anyone ever read a contract with you?"

"Well, only the Queen, but she's knows what I'm like."

"Ooooooooooo is there something going on there? You and the Queen, sounds like romance is in the air" I cheekily smiled.

He glared back. "Don't make me sick. Besides she kills the people she ah... courts. Not a very safe place to be, in my opinion."

I laughed "I'll remember never to date the Queen then." He tilted his head "Not that I swing that way." I added just because he looked so worried.

I fell back onto the bed. "So you're not going to make sure that door leads to a walk in wardrobe?" He asked as he pointed at the door.

"Well knowing you it could be a trap." I mocked.

"I wouldn't do that to my only daughter." He ran his finger down my nose affectionately.

I looked away from him "You have before."

He grabbed my chin and turned my face back to him. "That was a mistake." His eyes were sad and sincere. He took my hands in his. "A mistake I won't make again."

I hugged him. "You promise" I whispered into his ear.

"Always" He kissed my hair. "Always"

Being in his arms again felt like home. I had my dad back. He was back to looking like my dad. He was even using a walking stick again. Maybe the man he had become, the man that couldn't love anyone was gone. Maybe, just maybe my dad was back. My stomach rumpled. "So what's for dinner?" I asked as I looked up at him.

"Well I was going to make..."

"No!" I jumped up. "I remember that grey stuff you gave me last time. You said it was delicious. Well it wasn't. And somehow I doubt that the curse improved your culinary skills."

"We could always go out for dinner." He suggested "Your shout."

I poked my tongue at him "My first dinner here with you and you're already trying to get me to pay."

"It was just a mere suggestion; a very good one in my opinion."

"You know that you're rich, right?"

"Of course"

"Then why are you so tight with money?"

"That's how I stay rich."

"Daddy, one night out isn't going to break your budget. Besides I'm willing to make you a deal."

His eyes lit up "And what might that be?" His voice was full of curiosity.

"Well I'm willing to make dinner for us six nights a week. On my one night off I want to go out somewhere with you. It can be a father daughter date." I suggested.

"Interesting, what's in it for me?"

"I'd be making you dinner six times a week." I reiterated.

"I've been making dinner for myself every day since the curse was in acted. I want something more valuable."

"You always do" I mocked as I walked to the door that hopefully led to a walk in wardrobe. "Well what do you want?" I didn't even bother to turn around. I knew he'd be wearing that grin of his. Instead I opened the door to the biggest walk in wardrobe I've even seen. There were far too many shoes for one person neatly sitting on the shoe racks. On one side of the room was my favourite white dress hanging there among other beautiful dresses, that's including ball gowns that I wore to weddings and other major events. I stroked them before looking at the other side that held jeans, cargos, shorts and skirts (but none of them shorter than knee length). At the end of the room was a door with a chest of draws on one side and my suitcases on the other. I was so stunned that I didn't even notice that my dad had followed me in.

I jumped as he put his arms on my shoulder and whispered into my ear. "I was thinking you could help me organise my shop."

"Well that sounds interesting." I smiled as I opened the door.

Obviously it was an ensuite. The thing I hadn't realised was that it was going to be so big. There was a shower, spa, sink and a separate room for the toilet. It was all white except for the rose tiles scattered beautifully between the white ones. I turned around to my dad "You don't think you went a little over the top?"

"Nothing is over the top for my little girl." He pulled me into his arms.

"That is nothing except for dinners out once a week at your expense."

"Yes, well we all have our exceptions." He mocked. All I could was laugh at him. "Do we have a deal?" He stretched out his hand.

I looked at his hand and then back at him. "It depends on how messy your shop is."

He looked down at me "Well it's nearly seven. So if you want to eat out tonight you're going to have to make a decision."

"Well in that case" I smiled up at him "I guess I'll just have to say deal." I took his hand and shook it a extremely childish manner.

"Now that's my girl." He smiled down at me.

"So back to my question" He looked at me wondering what talking about "What's for dinner?"

He laughed as he twirled me around. "You'll just have to wait and see."