A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, favorites, and followers. I have been pretty busy lately with work and school so I haven't had the chance to look at this story for awhile, but I saw quite notifications for this story so I thought I would get another chapter up. Sorry it's been so long, but here's chapter 14!

*Oh and I think I got a little confused on what days Snow was supposedly working at the school so just go with whatever I wrote. I think I got it backwards from what I wrote before.

Curse Broken at Eleven

Chapter 14

"How'd you like your new horse?" Snow asked with a grin.

"I love her, but I'm not sure about riding it." Emma said.

"Well you will get there. Maybe you could ride with your father or I first." Snow suggested, secretly loving the idea.

Emma nodded.

"Why don't you go get started on your writing? You have a lot to do still." Snow said.

"Do I have to?" Emma whined.

"Yes." Snow said.

"Can't you give me an extension on it?" Emma asked.

"Emma, let me remind you: you had two weeks to work on this, you don't need an extension. If you had done it when you were supposed to then you wouldn't have to be doing it now. You'd be done." Snow lectured.

"I know." Emma said in a whiny voice as she slowly walked over to get her writing folder.

Snow shook her head as she watched her get her folder and get to work. "Start revising and I'll be over in a little bit."

Emma mumbled something under her breath, but Snow chose to ignore it. She had to get dinner started and she had a lot on her mind with the new baby on the way. Plus she wasn't sure how they would tell Emma. They were just starting to get to know her and she didn't want her to think that they didn't want her. She knew that her first foster parents had her for 3 years until they had their own baby and gave her up. Snow didn't want Emma to feel like she was being replaced. They would have to really show her that this new baby wouldn't replace her.

Ten minutes later, David came out of the bathroom from taking a shower. He heard Emma grumbling at the table as she worked on her writing.

"If she is like this now, I hate to think what her teenage years are going to be like." David said with a grimace.

Snow chuckled. "I don't want to think about that yet because this one will be in its terrible twos when Emma is thirteen."

"Oh great. We definitely will have our work cut out for us, won't we?" David said softly with a smile.

"Definitely." Snow said with a grin.

David leaned down and kissed her before putting a hand on her stomach with a smile. "I can't believe we are having another one." David whispered to Snow before going over to Emma.

"How's it going, kid?" David asked as he patted her head before sitting down at the table.

Emma just glared at him.

"That well, huh?" David said with a sympathetic smile.

Emma gave him annoyed look and David almost chuckled before getting up to go help Snow.

"Geez, I think I might just give her some space for awhile." David said with a chuckle.

"That's probably a good idea." Snow said with a smile.

Emma continued to work on her paper until dinner time and her mood didn't improve much.

6:40 pm

"It's dinner time, Emma. Why don't you take a break and set the table?" Snow said softly.

"I'm not hungry." Emma snapped.

"Emma Ruth, don't talk to your mother that way." David scolded.

Emma was a bit shocked at how stern he was and it actually made her mad so instead of acknowledging him or doing what her mother asked, she turned back to her work.

Snow and David exchanged a frustrated look before they tried to deal with their cranky daughter.

"Emma, your mother asked you to set the table." David said.

Emma ignored him.

"Emma, your father is talking to you." Snow tried, but no response from Emma.

David had enough and walked over to Emma. He took her writing from her.

"Hey!" Emma yelled.

"Set the table, young lady." David instructed her.

"No." Emma said defiantly as she crossed her arms.

David had to mentally count to ten before responding. "Head up to your room." David said in a quiet voice.

Emma just sat there with her arms crossed. David couldn't take her attitude and disrespect anymore so he took her by the arm and made her stand up from her chair. He gave her a swat before turning her to him. "Upstairs. Now." David said sternly.

Emma knew she couldn't push him anymore without getting in deep trouble so she stomped (limp in all) up the stairs to her room. She wasn't even sure why she was being so stubborn or why they were making her mad.

David shook his head in frustration at his daughter. "What has gotten in to her?"

"She doesn't like writing especially having to revise and edit." Snow said.

"Yeah, but she was just so defiant." David said.

"I know." Snow said with a bewildered look.

"I probably should go up there and deal with her." David said with a sigh.

"Why don't you let me? She may just need to talk." Snow said as she walked to him placing a hand on his arm before heading up there.

"Emma?" Snow called softly.

"Go away!" Emma yelled.

"Emma, what's wrong?" Snow asked softly.

"Nothing! Leave me alone!" Emma yelled again.

"Emma, quit yelling." Snow said softly, but in a voice that commanded respect.

"I can do what I want!" Emma yelled again. She wasn't sure why she was so mad right now, but she felt like yelling and taking it out on someone else. "And you can't tell me what to do! You may have had me, but I hardly know you!"

"Emma, I know that we are just getting to know each other, but that doesn't mean you can treat me or your father that way." Snow said softly.

"I can do what I want! I don't need either of you! I took care of myself before you guys and I did fine! Just go away!" Emma yelled as she took the little figurine on her bedside table and threw it across her room just barely missing her mom.

Snow was shocked at Emma's behavior and wasn't even sure how to respond.

"What's going on?" David said as he burst into the room to see the shattered glass just to the right of his wife. "Emma, did you throw this at your mom?" David asked with a shocked look on his face.

Emma gulped because she hadn't even thought of what she was doing. She didn't mean to throw it so close to her mom. She couldn't believe what she had just done and said to her mom.

"Answer me. Now." David said in a quiet, yet dangerous voice.

Emma wanted so bad to take it all back and felt like crying because she was afraid that they wouldn't want her anymore. She had just crossed a line. She almost hurt her mom. "Yes." Emma almost cried as she shrunk back.

"I'm just going to go downstairs." Snow said with a few tears escaping her eyes. This situation wasn't helping her raging hormones.

David watched her go and then turned back to Emma. "I don't even know what to say to you right now."

She had done it this time. They were done with her. They wouldn't want her now. They would think she was too dangerous.

"How could you do that? What were you thinking? She's pregnant! I can't believe you did that! I can't even talk to you right now." David almost yelled at Emma before turning around and leaving the room. He had said too much and if he stayed he would say things he didn't mean or things he shouldn't say to her. He hadn't meant to tell her she was pregnant. He was already regretting that, hopefully she didn't hear what he said.

Pregnant. Emma had heard him right. They were having a new baby. They really would be getting rid of her. They were replacing her. They couldn't have her around their new baby.

Emma couldn't take it when she realized that she had began to hope in her happy ending with her parents, her real parents, and now it was destroyed, never to happen. It was gone. She laid face down on her bed and cried her heart out because she had ruined it all.

*****OUAT*****

7:35pm

"I can't believe that I told her you were pregnant. We need to go up there and tell her the right way." David said feeling completely terrible for telling Emma about Snow's pregnancy in that way.

"Yes, let's go up. I need to bring her plate up as well." Snow said, having calmed down after her encounter with Emma.

They started to walk up the stairs to Emma's room.

"I just can't believe she threw that at you." David said. He was still frustration with her actions even if he felt terrible about what he said to her.

"She is getting older, maybe she is starting to get her own hormones." Snow said with a smirk.

"No. She is not growing up that fast." David shook his head in complete denial.

Snow just smiled as David knocked on Emma's door. He wasn't going to like it when Emma started dating.

When they didn't hear Emma, David opened the door quietly. "She's asleep." David whispered to his wife before walking in quietly.

Snow set the plate down on the dresser. "Let's just let her sleep for now."

David nodded as he draped a blanket over Emma.

David and Snow left the room quietly and went back downstairs. They checked on her later that night, but she was still sound asleep so they let her be.

*****OUAT*****

She hadn't even realized she had fallen asleep when she woke up. She glanced at the clock to see it was four in the morning and she was freezing.

She sniffled a little when she realized her parents hadn't ever come back up to talk to her or tuck her in. They really hated her now. She hated herself so she couldn't blame them, but it made her feel sick.

She got up from her bed and walked over to her bathroom. She took a shower and all though she felt terrible she was out of tears. She just felt numb. She was losing her family. They didn't want her anymore. She stood in the shower until she realized the water went cold so she jumped out.

She got dressed and started to pack her things. When they told her she would be going. She'd be ready. She would only take what she brought with her, nothing else belonged to her. She knew the drill.

She cleaned up the glass, made the bed, and cleaned up the room so that it would be ready for when they made it into a nursery.

It was five thirty by the time that she had finished with her room. She sat down on the bed and waited nervously for them to come up and tell her. Her heart was already broken, but this would shatter it into a million pieces. She could take it though because she was tough or at least that's what she was telling herself.

Emma waited for the next two hours sitting against her headboard with her legs up against her chest. She couldn't help replay what she did last night and her parents' looks. Both of them shocked, her mom sad and her dad angry.

When it was closer to when they could possible come up, Emma wondered why she hadn't just ran away because she wasn't so sure she could handle being rejected by her real parents.

She heard footsteps and her heart seized in fear of what was going to come.

"Emma, it's time to..." David started as he came in, but stopped when he saw his daughter all ready awake and ready sitting on her bed. He wasn't as frustrated with her, but he did feel they need to talk about what happened the night before. "Why are you up already?"

"Just wanted to be ready." Emma said an emotionless voice.

David then realized the clean room and her packed bag that she had brought with her. "For school?" David asked, knowing that's not what she meant. He was mentally kicking himself for saying anything last night to her while he was angry.

"No. To leave. I know you don't want me any more, you are about to tell me because you are sending me back." Emma said in the same voice as she was looking at him, but it seemed she was looking straight through him.

"No." David started and Emma's heart shattered. "We aren't sending you back and we do want you."

"You're lying. You are sending me back. Or you will once you think about it. You won't want me around when you have a baby."

"Emma, I'm not lying. Both your mother and I love you. We want you with us and even when we have the baby we will still want you. I'm sorry I told you that way, that's not how we were going to tell you." David said as he approached her slowly.

Emma heard him, but she couldn't hope in what he was saying. "You won't want me."

"Yes, we will and we do want you." David said sincerely, but he could tell this would take time. They would have to prove it to her over and over again.

"So you aren't sending me back today?" Emma asked.

"We aren't sending you back ever." David said.

Emma nodded and grabbed her backpack for school before walking around her Dad to leave the room.

David frowned before leaving the room. He hated to see her revert to the way she had been when they had brought her here. It had taken him a long time to break down some of her walls enough for her to trust him and believe he cared.

When he walked downstairs, Emma was standing like she was in a stranger's house and not her own. "Come on, let's you get some breakfast."

"I don't need anything." Emma said.

"You need something." David said, knowing she was trying to not be a bother, but it wasn't going to work. He put a blueberry pop tart in the toaster for her and got out some juice.

Emma was standing awkwardly by the counter, but not sitting down.

"Sit down, Emma." David said softly, but also in a voice that commanded she obey. He looked for something easy to make for her since both Snow and himself had overslept. Snow had to rush to get ready and go to work. David had made all their lunches as she was getting ready. She had left right before he went up to get Emma up for school.

Emma sat down and he put the juice in front of her than the pop tart. She stared at it for a second.

"Eat, Emma." David said softly.

Emma obeyed, but David was racking his brain trying to figure out how to fix this, but he knew it would take time. He wanted to just wrap her up in his arms and tell her that he was never going to let her go, but he knew she wouldn't accept that.

"Emma, I know you think that we are replacing you, but that's not true. We love you and we will prove to you that we want you and love you. You are with us for the long haul. You are our daughter, we love you."

Emma looked at him and wanted to believe what he was saying, but she couldn't let herself. She took a couple bites of her pop tart and drank the juice before standing back up. "Can we go now?" Emma asked.

David sighed as he handed her lunch to her. "Yes."

The ride to the school was quiet. When pulled up next to the school, he took Emma's hand to stop her from getting out. "Remember, I'm picking you up early today for your appointment."

"I don't need to go to that." Emma said.

"Yes you do and you are going. I'll be here to pick you up around 1:30."

"Ok."

"Emma, I love you. Have a good day." David said softly, but he couldn't help the sad tone in his voice.

"Bye, David." Emma said before she left the truck.

David sat there stunned. He didn't realize how much it would hurt for her to stop calling him Dad, but it was like a ton of bricks fell on him when she called him David.

He got his phone and dialed his wife's number. "We have a problem..."

******OUAT******

1:30pm

"I'm here to pick up Emma, she has an appointment." David said to the secretary.

"Just sign her out here and I'll call her classroom."

David nodded before signing Emma out. As he was writing her name, Emma Swan, he realized that maybe adopting her would help her believe that they were serious and that they would never be giving her up. She would be Emma Nolan instead. He liked that a lot even though his last name was from the curse.

"She'll be down in a minute."

David nodded as he quickly signed his name by Emma's name.

He watched as Emma came in and knew that she still was acting like she had when she had just gotten there. Her face was emotionless as she saw him and his heart sank because he was hoping this would all just blow over. "Come on, kiddo." David said as he put an arm around her shoulders to guide her out.

"How was school?" David asked when they got into the truck.

"I forgot my writing folder." Emma said.

"Oh well, your mother is still the teacher so I'm sure that she will make an exception this time." David tried.

"The substitute is going to be the new teacher." Emma said. She wanted to cry because she had actually had a pretty terrible day. The substitute didn't like her because she had forgotten her writing assignment and then gave her a whole speech on just because she was the teacher's daughter didn't give her the excuse to not turn things in on time. A bunch of the other kids including Bobby were telling the teacher how she got special treatment. The teacher then looked to Emma and told her that wouldn't be happening anymore. She then made her write during recess and made her bring her lunch into the room to write during that time too.

"Well I'm sure your mom can straighten that out." David said interrupting Emma's thoughts.

"I doubt it will help. She hates me already." Emma said quietly.

David just barely heard her, but he did. Her voice sounded sad and lonely. "I doubt she hates you. She hardly knows you."

"She thinks she knows me and that's all she cares about." Emma said as a tear fell down her face.

"It wasn't a very good day, huh?" David asked softly as he squeezed one of her shoulders.

"It was fine." Emma said as she stiffened up and put her emotionless mask back on her face so he couldn't see how she was feeling.

"I know that's not true. I know you Emma and I know what you are trying to do, but I can see past this mask you put on. You aren't alone and you will never be alone again." David said with a sad smile.

Emma stared ahead because she couldn't look at her Dad or else she might break down and she couldn't risk that.

David sighed as he pulled into the hospital's parking lot. He looked over at Emma and knew she was trying very hard to keep up her act of not needing them, but he saw the fear she was trying to hide from having to go to the hospital. "Come on, let's get this over with, Em."

David put his arm around Emma as they walked into the hospital. He was surprised that she was letting him do that, but then again he knew that she was nervous from being at the hospital.

They went to the physical therapy room and David checked Emma in for her appointment. "It will just be a few minutes."

David led Emma over to the sitting area and sat down with her. "This will be over before you know it."

Emma bit her lip, wanting so badly to be comforted by him, but she wouldn't let herself.

David kissed the top of her head and brought her closer to his side even if she didn't admit she needed his comfort, he knew she did need it.

"Emma Swan?"

They stood up and walked over to the tech that had called her name. "How's your ankle, Emma?"

"It's fine." Emma said.

"She's still limping especially when she is tired." David said ignoring Emma's glare at him.

The man nodded before leading them to the physical therapist.

"We are just going to do a few exercises that I'll have you do at home as well." The physical therapist said before instructing Emma to do the first exercise.

After forty-five minutes, the physical therapist gave David some last minute instructions before letting them leave.

David stopped at Granny's before going home and helped Emma out of the truck. She seemed pretty tired after her exercises.

"What are we doing?" Emma asked.

"I thought we could get some ice cream." David said with a smile.

Emma almost smiled, but stopped herself. She couldn't let her guard down, but she was finding it harder and harder to keep up this facade.

David had seen her start to smile and knew his Emma was there under the surface, he just needed to keep working at her.

"Why don't you go find a table while I order?" David said as they got inside.

Emma nodded and sat at a booth. David sighed before calling his wife quickly to update her on what was going on with Emma.

"I wish I could come home, but I have that meeting at 6:30 and I'm not ready for it." Snow said through the phone.

"It's okay, just don't work too hard. You need to take care of yourself." David said seriously.

"I'm fine, David. Keep me updated on Emma. I hate that she has reverted, but hopefully it won't take too long to get her back to where we were with her."

"Yeah, I hope so. Well I'll talk to you later." David said before hanging up and ordering.

He walked over to the booth and sat across from Emma. "Do you have any homework to do?"

Emma nodded. "Yes." Emma said with a frown. The substitute had given her a lot of extra homework for leaving early and not turning in her writing assignment not to mention the normal homework.

"Just reading and math?"

"No, she gave me extra homework." Emma said.

David frowned. He wasn't sure about this new substitute that was supposedly the new teacher. "Hm well when we get home you can show me what all you have to do." David said.

He wanted to see how reasonable the homework that she was given was. If it wasn't he would let Snow know since she was still the real teacher.

Ruby brought their ice cream and made some small talk with them before leaving them to eat.

"How early did you wake up, Emma?" David asked softly when Emma tried to hide a yawn.

"Four."

"Oh Emma, that's too early." David said softly. He hadn't realized she had been up that long.

Emma shrugged. She couldn't have slept any longer.

David frowned, but he knew she would have to go to bed early tonight to make up for it.

"Well I guess we should get home and get you started on your homework." David said once they were done with their ice cream. Emma hadn't been talking unless she was asked a direct question. Most of the time she was avoiding even looking at him. David was trying to come up with ways to get Emma to stop this little charade, but he knew it would take time. He just hated it.

"You aren't going back to work?" Emma asked.

"Not today." David said. He talked to Snow and they agreed that it would be best if he just brought her home after her appointment. She needed to feel cared for and loved.

Emma knew that it was because of her and wondered if she was ever going to get in trouble for what she did last night. She felt really bad for throwing the figurine so close to her mom. She hadn't even seen her mom since she had left her room. Maybe David wanted her, but she didn't anymore. She wouldn't blame her, it made sense for her to want her new baby to be safe.

After David had gotten Emma home, he had her get out all her homework. "She gave you all this to do tonight?" David asked in surprise.

"Yep."

"This is hours worth of work on top of what you normally have." David said with a shake of his head. "Ok, this is what we are going to do. You do the reading and math first while I call your mother."

"It's fine, I'll just do it." Emma said, not wanting him to bother her with this.

"No, this is way too much for one night. Start on your math." David said as he dialed his wife's number.

"Hey Snow, your sub gave Emma a bunch of extra homework that would take her hours to do."

"What? She should only have reading and math to do. That's all I told her to give them. Did she give everyone extra work or just Emma?"

"Emma said it was because she forgot her writing folder, but it's not just writing homework."

"Well I'll be there tomorrow so just have her do the math and reading and finish her writing assignment if she hasn't yet." Snow responded.

"Ok, good. Thanks!" David said. "I'll see you later."

"I'll try to get home as soon as I can after the meeting."

"Ok, make sure to be safe."

"I will. See you later."

"Ok, bye." David said before his wife hung up.

"Ok, kiddo. All you have to do is reading, math, and finish your writing assignment."

Emma nodded, but she felt like she needed to do all of it.

"How's your math coming? Do you understand it?" David asked as he looked at her paper over her shoulder. She hadn't figure any of them out yet, but she had been erasing over and over again on the first problem.

"Uh...I wasn't there for math." Emma said softly.

"Don't you have math right after lunch?" David asked.

"Yeah, but she sent me to the buddy room right after she told us what we were going to learn."

"Why did she send you?" David asked with a grimace.

Emma took out the buddy referral and handed it to him.

David took it and read it. It said that Emma had refused to answer a math question and then was disrespectful to the teacher. "Did you know how to answer what she was asking?"

"No, I had no clue what the answer was." Emma said as she looked down in shame.

"Were you disrespectful to her?" David asked. He had a feeling that this lady just had it out for Emma.

"If I was, I didn't mean to be. I just really didn't know the answer." Emma said as one tear fell from her face.

"I believe you." David said as he signed the form and handed it back to her.

Emma just stared at him. "I'm not in trouble." Emma asked after a moment.

"No. It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong." David said as he wiped away the tear on her cheek.

"Ok." Emma said, but looked surprised.

David smiled at her. "Ok, let's see what you are doing."

David looked at her work and quickly showed her how to do it. She caught on pretty quick and was able to get it done. He left her alone to read and finish her writing assignment while he started dinner.

Emma finished her reading and writing in the next hour while her Dad was making dinner for them. She knew he said she didn't have to do the rest, but she didn't want the other kids to think she was getting special treatment. They all knew that she had gotten extra homework and would tell the sub that she didn't do it when the sub was there on Wednesday again.

She looked up at her Dad and got out another assignment when he wasn't looking. She worked on it until dinner was ready.

"Ok, Emma. Put your stuff away it's dinner time." David said from the kitchen and Emma put away her work.

"Did you finish?" David asked when Emma came over to him. It was weird that she wasn't initiating any of their conversations. She normally was a bit more talkative than this.

"Yeah." Emma said as she took the plates and brought them to the table without saying anything else.

They quietly worked to set the table and get the food and drinks on it. Once they sat down and started eating, David saw that Emma was getting rather sleepy. Halfway through their meal, Emma put her head on her hand as she ate. "How do you know this sub is going to actually be your new teacher?" David asked. She didn't need to be falling asleep yet.

Emma's head snapped up and looked at David for a second. "Um, she said that she would be."

"Oh. Was today the first day she has sub for your class?"

"No. She has two times before."

David nodded. "Are you about done?" David asked.

"Yeah, I'm done." Emma said as she rubbed at one of her eyes.

David hid a smile as he watched her try to keep her eyes open. "Come on, let's clean up and then maybe we can read more of your book."

Emma yawned and stood up to take her plate to the sink. "When is mom...Mary Margaret coming home?"

David heard her slip and smiled. She had to make a mental effort to not say mom and dad now. "Your mother has a meeting, but she should be back by 7:00."

Emma frowned thinking her mom was probably avoiding her. She figured that her mom would get a sub for tomorrow so that she wouldn't have to see her tomorrow either.

"Hey what's wrong?" David asked as he saw her sad expression. She quickly schooled her features though when he asked.

"Nothing."

David let it go, but he knew she wanted her mom home. He presumed she felt guilty for what she had done the day before which reminded him they never talked to her about it. He was a little distracted about her thinking they were sending her away. In a way, she was punishing herself.

After cleaning up, David had Emma get ready for bed before coming back downstairs to sit on the couch with him. Before he started reading though, he turned to her. "Emma, there is something we need to talk about. Your behavior yesterday wasn't acceptable and you really need to work harder at controlling you temper. You could have hurt your mother. Do you regret your behavior?" David asked softly.

"Yes." Emma said truthfully.

"I thought so. I think you need to apologize to your mom, don't you?"

"Yes, sir." Emma said.

"Good girl. Now, let's read your book."

"That's it? No punishment?" Emma asked, stunned.

"I think you are punishing yourself, so there is no punishment besides apologizing."

Emma couldn't help the tears that came down her face when she realized that he wasn't punishing her at all for what she did when she had down something so bad. "But...I almost hurt her...I deserve..." Emma stammered through her tears.

David knew that this is what would really help Emma realize that they loved her unconditionally. He took her in his arms, but turned her to face him. "Emma, the reason there is no punishment is because you know what you did was wrong and are sorry for it. Do you think you will do something like this again?" David asked.

"No, I promise!" Emma reassured.

"See, there's no need for a punishment this time." David said. "You are forgiven." David said softly before kissing Emma's forehead. She cried so he brought her close so that she was laying against his chest.

He hoped this would break through her thick skull that they loved her and wanted her. He held for a good while as she cried, but after she stopped he turned her around so that her back was against his chest. "Why don't we read for awhile?" David said as he grabbed the book, keeping his arms around her as he started to read it.

After reading half the chapter, David looked down to see his daughter's eyes starting to close. "Let's get you up to bed, sweetheart."

"I'm awake." Emma said through a yawn.

"Yes, but you won't be for long." David said with a chuckle.

"Daddy?" Emma said quietly.

"Yes, Em?" David asked with a huge smile on his face. She hadn't called him Dad at all throughout the day so hearing Daddy was very nice.

"Can I call you Dad again?" Emma asked quietly.

"Of course, Emma. No matter what, I will always be your Dad so you can always call me Dad." David said softly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, baby."

"Ok, Daddy." Emma said as she closed her eyes.

He smiled as he adjusted her in his arms before getting up from the couch with her. He walked up stairs and put her in her bed. By the time he tucked her in, she was sound asleep. He kissed her forehead before turning the light off and leaving the room.

He then went downstairs to see it was way past seven and his wife wasn't home yet. He dialed her cell phone to see if she was okay.

*****OUAT*****

"Emma, we have to go." David said in an urgent voice as he wrapped her in a blanket and picked her up in his arms.

"Tired, Daddy." Emma complained in a half asleep voice.

"I know, but Daddy has to find Mommy so I have to drop you off with Ruby for a little while." David said quickly as he rushed down the stairs with Emma. He had gotten a call from the man who claimed to be Emma's old foster Dad saying he had his wife and that if he brought him Emma that he would return his wife to him. Of course, there was no way that he would give this man his daughter, but the man had given him a place to meet him so he was going to meet him and get his wife back.

"Why? Where is she?" Emma asked, but her eyes were having trouble staying open.

"That man has her, but don't worry I'll get her back." David said with determination.

Emma woke up a little more as she heard that her old foster Dad that she couldn't remember had her mom. She frowned as she realized this was her fault. "It's my fault. He sent me a note to meet him, but I didn't."

David stopped on the way to the truck as he heard her. "What?"

"It's my fault." Emma said again.

"No, it's not your fault, but what do you mean he sent you a note?" David asked as he continued to the truck and put her in.

"There was a note on my desk this morning from him. I should have meet him like he asked and then he wouldn't have taken her." Emma said with a frown.

"No, you were right not to meet him, but you should have told me that he sent you a note. You don't ever go meet anyone without our permission, okay?" David said firmly.

"Yes, Daddy." Emma said.

"Good girl." David said as he buckled her in her seat, blanket and all. He then shut the door and ran to the other side of the truck to get in.

"I'm going to drop you off with Ruby, but I'll be back to pick you up after I get your mom." David explained.

"I can just come with you." Emma said as he drove to the Inn.

"No, you can't come and I expect you to listen to Ruby." David said firmly.

Emma nodded slowly. David could tell she was still half asleep.

"What time is it?" Emma asked as he pulled up next to the inn.

"It's eleven, but you can sleep here until I get back." David said softly before turning off the truck and getting out to go to the other side to get Emma out.

When he opened her door, she was trying to unbuckle herself, but she was having troubles with it. "Let me get it, Em." David said as he made quick work of her seatbelt and picked her up out of the truck.

He carried her inside to see Ruby and Granny in there waiting for him. "Keep her safe." David said as he put Emma on the couch.

"Don't worry, she will be." Ruby said and Granny nodded, she had her cross bow with her.

David kissed Emma's forehead. "Be good and try to sleep, I'll be back as soon as I can."

Emma nodded, but looked like she was holding back tears.

David gave her a soft smile before standing up and leaving.

Ruby kneeled down by the couch. "Sleep, Emma. He will be back soon." Ruby said softly.

Emma started crying because she was afraid that she was going to lose both of her parents to this man she couldn't remember plus a baby brother or sister. She didn't want to lose her family.

"Oh Emma, everything is going to be okay." Ruby said as took Emma in her arms and sat on the couch with her.

Emma wanted to believe her, but she had a feeling that it wasn't going to be okay. Plus she knew this was all her fault.

*****OUAT*****

3:45am

David turned off the engine with a tired sigh as he reached the inn. The man, Eddie, hadn't shown up till 12 and then had demanded that David go get Emma to bring her to him. David of course told him that there was no way he would be handing over his daughter to this man. The man then told him he wouldn't get his wife back until he had Emma then took off.

David had done his best to follow him, but the man had gone into the forest. David had chased him through the forest, but the man had jumped on a hidden motorcycle after they were deep into the forest. David had followed the tracks as fast as he could, but lost the trail when he got to a hidden side road. He had to then back track to his truck before finding the side road again.

He had driven up and down the road looking for any sign of the motorcycle, but he had lost his trail so he decided to head back to get his daughter. He had spent most of the night trying to find his wife, but he didn't feel any closer to finding her then when he had found out she was missing. He did wish he had punched this man when he had a chance.

David walked to the door and knocked on it. Granny came to the door still holding her crossbow and let him in. "How's Emma?" David asked.

"She's with Ruby. How did it go?" Granny asked.

"He didn't have her with him. I chased him, but I lost his trail on a side road. He wants Emma." David said with a grimace.

Granny nodded as she led David into the living area where he had laid Emma down.

Emma was laying with her head in Ruby's lap and it looked like she was just barely awake. She caught sight of her Dad when he came in and looked relieved, but also sad probably because he wasn't with her mom. "Daddy..." Emma cried as she reached her arms out to her Dad.

David quickly picked her up and held her close. "I'm here, baby. I'm here." David said softly. He sat down on the chair, keeping Emma against his chest as he rubbed her back. David then looked towards Ruby to whisper, "did she sleep at all?"

"Off and on." Ruby answered with a sad smile.

David nodded, he had expected as much from Emma. Actually, he was surprised she had slept at all. She probably had tried to stay awake, but being as tired as she was from waking so early the morning before probably hadn't helped. "Ok, Emma. Let's go home." David said softly as he stood up with her in his arms. She, however, was pretty much asleep in his arms.

Ruby handed him the blanket they had brought and David wrapped it around Emma before thanking them. Ruby had told him that she could help track Snow later. He had told that he would come around after he had dropped Emma off at school.

David walked to the truck and went to the passenger's side door to put Emma in the truck. Emma woke up with a start as he put her down. "Daddy?"

"Shh, baby. We're just going home, close your eyes." David said as he buckled her up and gave her a quick kiss to the cheek before shutting the door.

Emma was trying to keep her eyes open as David got in the truck. He looked over to see her eyes drooping closed, but then she would open them really quickly. He needed to get her back to bed as soon as possible.

David hurried home and walked quickly over to Emma's side to see that Emma was trying to get out without taking her seatbelt off. She looked very confused when she couldn't get out. David smiled softly before unbuckling her seatbelt and taking her into his arms again.

David walked up the stairs and saw a note on their door. He took it off, but didn't look at it until he was in the loft. He locked the door when he got them inside. He glanced at the note as he still held Emma.

Bring me Emma or else you won't see your wife again. - Eddie

David rolled his eyes. He was sick of this man, who thought that he would just hand over his daughter. For one, it was his daughter not a toy they were talking about. For two, his wife would kill him if he ever traded their daughter for her. No, Ruby and him would track her down and if that didn't work he would get a tracking potion from Gold. He would find his wife.

"Ok, let's get you to bed, Em." David said softly.

"Daddy? Can I sleep with you?" Emma asked as a few tears fell down her face.

"Yes, baby." David answered softly as he brought her to his and Snow's bed.

"Is Mommy okay?" Emma asked with more tears.

"I'm sure she is." David said as he got into bed. Emma snuggled up next to him.

"This is my fault." Emma cried.

"Emma, none of this is your fault and you don't need to worry because I will find her." David said with determination.

Emma frowned because no matter how she looked at it, it was her fault. The man wanted her so he took her mom. Also her mom wouldn't have been working so late if she hadn't thrown that figurine at her the night before. Not to mention that their new baby was in danger as well. She had to do something to make it right, but her Dad wouldn't let her right now. If Eddie contacted her again, she would meet him so he would leave her mom alone.

"Emma, go to sleep sweetie. You're safe and everything is going to be fine." David said when he noticed that Emma hadn't fallen asleep.

Emma, though, was more afraid for her mom than herself. She closed her eyes anyway and tried to sleep. She would need her sleep to save her mom and the new baby from this man.