Title: Love is Strength

Disclaimer: Once Upon A Time and its characters belong to Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and are owned by ABC. Not Mine!

Warning: K+ (Mentions some violence)

Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews and suggestions! I'll try my best to do what I can for you guys! Chapter 11! I really like this chapter! I hope you guys like it too, has some good Daddy Charming/Emma moments :) Hope you like them, QuillAnnie! Enjoy! :)

A Family's Strength

The movie was still going on, but Emma and Henry had both fallen asleep again leaving Snow and Charming to watch the movie. Henry had his head on a pillow on Snow's lap as she rubbed his back gently. Emma had her head lying on Charming's chest, breathing evenly as Charming kept his arm around her shoulder keeping her close.

"Looks like we lost them again." Snow whispered to Charming as she looked down at both Henry and Emma sleeping as the movie still played in the background.

"I know. Maybe it is about time we got these two up to bed." Charming said looking at his daughter and grandson.

"Let's just wait till the movie ends, it looks like it is almost over. Anyway, Emma would have a cow if she knew it wasn't over yet and we were making her go to bed." Snow said with a soft smile.

"Very true." Charming said with a chuckle. He then gently took Emma off his chest and laid her against the couch as he got up. She looked so young as she slept and so cute in his flannel shirt that was too big for her. Snow gave him a puzzled look, but before she could ask what he was doing he told her. "I'll be right back, just going to the bathroom." Charming said with a sweet smile. He didn't really want to leave Emma, but he would be back soon.

"Okay, I'll hold down the fort." Snow said with a grin as she looked from Charming to Emma and Henry.

Emma shifts a little as she dreams and Snow pulls the blanket up to her chin again.

Emma is in a cold, dark place when she hears a rough, bitter voice come from the darkness.

"This time I will not fail, Emma. Your father will not be able to save you. It is a shame that you have to die because your father and mother were selfish. Oh well, I am actually going to enjoy killing you, but I need an audience including not only father, but your mother too. Then after I kill you, I am going to kill your parents, first your mom then your dad."

Emma could feel her heart beating faster as King George talked. "Leave them alone, you can do whatever you want to me, but just leave my family alone." Emma said desperately as she was frightened for herself, but not wanting her mother or her father to be in danger either. Also worried about Henry, knowing that King George would stop at nothing to ruin their family's happiness.

"That would not give me enough satisfaction, Ms. Swan." King George said with a sneer and laughed an evil laugh that sent a shiver down Emma's spine.

"You are an idiot if you think this will work." Emma said as King George hits her hard in the face causing her to hit the wall and pass out…

Emma wakes up with start with her heart beating a mile a minute. She is trying to catch her breath wondering how King George had gotten her again when her mother interrupts her thoughts.

"Emma, are you okay?" Snow said as she reached over to Emma, worried at how she was breathing so rapidly.

Emma realizes that it was a dream, but then realizes that David isn't on the couch anymore. She starts breathing harder again as she gets more and more anxious. "Where…where… is…. Dad?" Emma says through labored breaths with a hoarse voice.

"I am right here, Emma. What's wrong?" Charming rushes back towards Emma who looks terrified and confused. He sits back down and gently puts her back where she was, holding her tightly as he rubs her back. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" He is really worried because she is starting to hyperventilate and he needs to get her to calm down.

"I didn't know where you were…" Emma said still breathing hard with her heart almost beating out of her chest.

"I am right here, no need to worry. Is there anything else bothering you?" Charming asked trying to get at the root of the problem. He can feel her heart beating fast; she is obviously anxious and scared over something or someone.

"I…" Emma started not sure if she wants to tell her father about how she has been feeling since they got back from her being kidnapped by King George. She can't seem to catch her breath or slow her heart beat down.

"Emma just breath, it's okay, I am here, baby. I am not going anywhere." Charming comforts Emma while rubbing her back. He gives a worried glance at Snow wondering if she understands what is wrong with their daughter. She looks just as confused and worried as him.

Emma is not sure if she can tell him about her separation anxiety, she decides to tell him about the dream, which isn't much better, but she feels like she needs to tell someone. "I had a dream about King George." Emma said in a quiet voice that Charming had to strain his ears to hear her. "He had me again, but it was in a cold basement, somewhere I didn't recognize. He was telling me that this time he wasn't going to fail and he wanted both of you there to watch him kill me, then he said he was going to kill both of you." Emma heart started to race again at the thought of her parents dying.

"Emma, breathe honey, breathe." Charming worriedly, told Emma.

Emma didn't realize she had been holding her breath till her Dad told her to breathe.

"That's it, sweetheart. Just breathe. Now what else happen?" Charming said calmly while rubbing Emma's back again.

"I told him it wouldn't work and that he was an idiot to think it would work. He got mad and hit me. I flew into the stone wall and passed out and that's when I woke up." Emma said through ragged breaths.

"Oh Emma. It was only a dream. You are safe with your mother and I. He isn't going to hurt you. I wouldn't let anything happen to you. You are safe with me, sweetheart. I've got you." Charming said as he rubs her back with one hand and gently strokes her hair with his other hand. Her breathing slows some, but her heart is still pounding.

Emma could feel herself calming a little under her father's touch and she could tell that her mother was also trying to comfort her by squeezing her shoulder. This was very unfamiliar to be comforted after a nightmare, but really nice as well. She still needed to tell him about why she freaked out when she noticed he wasn't there, but she wasn't sure if she could bring it up.

"Emma, why were you so upset when you noticed I wasn't here?" Charming asked softly.

"I….I..." Emma hesitated. Emma wasn't sure she could tell her father what was wrong. She felt a little foolish about it now.

"Out with it." Charming said gently.

"Ever since you saved me, I have felt…." Emma hesitated again.

"It's okay you can tell me." Charming encouraged Emma.

"I have felt…a little anxious when you are not in the room with me. It's dumb, I know. I just feel like I need you with me, it makes me feel better. It's dumb." Emma says quietly.

"Oh Emma. It's not dumb. I haven't wanted to leave you either. I guess I feel like I need to protect you and I couldn't do that without being with you. Sometimes when you go through something like we did together, you feel a little separation anxiety after, it's normal, honey. You went through something upsetting and it is bound to upset you. It upsets me too, thinking that I almost lost you, it doesn't make me want to leave you either. But Emma, remember you can always tell me anything and I won't ever thinks it's dumb." Charming said with a soft smile. Emma's breathing was slowing down and her heart wasn't beating as fast anymore.

"Okay, thank you, Dad." Emma said. She was relieved that she was able to finally tell him, but still felt a little embarrassed by it. He broke down one of her walls and it felt good to be able to trust someone else. It was a big burden to always have to deal with everything alone. It was nice to be able to trust her dad and her mom, for that matter. She relaxed into her father arms, taking comfort in his strength and his reassurances to protect her.

Charming kisses her forehead with tears in his eyes and continues to rub her back and stroke her hair gently, waiting for her breathing and her heartbeat to return to normal. Emma was holding tightly on to his shirt with her hand. She probably doesn't even realize she is doing it, but he likes that she is comfortable enough with him to seek comfort from him.

Charming was glad that she was able to open up to him about her feelings and that he was able to comfort her. Her breathing and heart rate slowly returned to normal after a few moments. He glanced over to Snow to see the tears stream down her face as she has her hand on Emma's shoulder. They shared a sad glance as Emma relaxes in Charming's arms and under Snow's touch.

"I'm sorry I keep ruining family night by falling asleep. I was really trying to stay up this time." Emma said in a raspy voice. It hurt a little to talk, but she felt bad she kept putting a damper on their family time.

"Oh Emma, you aren't ruining family night." Snow said softly. "And the movie is not quite over yet." Snow ended with a smile.

"What do you say? Should we finish off the movie?" Charming asked with a smile.

"Of course, Thor is a really good movie and the end is the best part!" Emma exclaimed then started to cough. Her throat is really feeling raw after her little panic attack.

"Then that is what we shall do." Charming said as he rubbed Emma's back as she coughed. After Emma quit coughing, Charming readjusted the blanket over Emma so that she wouldn't get cold.

Everyone, but Henry, who was still sleeping, return their attention to the movie to watch the end of Thor.

Emma felt at peace for the moment with her father's arms around her, her son by her side and her mother lightly rubbing her back. She knew that her normal self would not accept this much comfort, but her parents had broken down some of her walls today that she isn't sure she will be able to rebuild. Their love and devotion for her broke them down and it has made her feel safe for once in her life. She wouldn't trade that for the world.

Charming is sad that Emma was having nightmares about King George and it makes him want to go after King George even more. This was his battle and he hated that King George had involved his family once again in it. He was going to watch out for Emma, Snow, and Henry more carefully now that King George was back to his old tricks. He was not going to allow his family to be hurt by him if he could help it. But for now, he was going to cherish this moment with his family so close to him. His daughter in his arms, his grandson and wife snuggled up together, right next to them. His family was together and safe, and they are going to stay that way if he had anything to say about it. He would protect his family from this man because love is strength and he loves his family, which will give him the strength to protect them. It has in the past and it will again.

Snow hated that her daughter was plagued with nightmares about King George. Why did their family have so many enemies that tried to ruin their happiness? Emma is their happiness and both King George and Regina know that. Will they ever have a normal life? A life where they can enjoy each other without having to constantly have to find each other and save each other. I guess that if we did not have to always find each other then we may take for granted the times we do get to spend together as a family. One thing that I would say is that this family will always fight for love – which means we will always find each other and we will always fight to save each other because we love each other. Love is our strength; it always has been and always will be our strength to do the impossible for each other. Snow looks at her family with such love and devotion and it brings a couple of tears to her eyes because she is overwhelmed with love for them. She gets to spend some time with them and she is going to cherish it. We are going to have to re-watch this movie again - we have all missed parts of it. Snow thinks with a smile. Maybe we can have some more family time tomorrow! Yes, Operation: Family Time continued, Henry is going to love that! Snow grins mischievously.

Charming catches her grin and wonders what she is up to this time. He knows that grin, it is one she gets when she is excited about something and he is guessing she is planning more family time. Oh dear, hopefully it goes better than today went! Charming thinks as he smiles softly as he turns his attention back to movie. Fandral does kind of look like me. Maybe…nah…couldn't be…

Please Review!

P.S. I'll try to make this story last a little while longer for you guys! More Snow/Emma scenes and Emma/Henry scenes to come! :) Also there will be more Charming/Emma scenes as well! :)