Hey everyone! I am SO sorry about the wait! I'm afraid my uni essays took all the writing out of me :(. Anyway, I'm back now! This chapter is for a friend of mine, who I know is going through a tough time just now.

"So, nine huh?" David asked, as Emma stood in front of the clock. Emma nodded.

"Yup, the finger decided nine, so nine it is. Best not waste any more time…" And with that, the familiar light surrounded her and she was transformed back into a nine year old.

Snow soon had Emma changed into a pair of dark blue jeans, checked blue shirt and a light grey zipper and she and David were chasing her about the house. It turned out, a nine year old Emma was a particularly hyper Emma. By the end of the first day David and Snow were exhausted.

"Tomorrow," David said as he slumped into bed beside Snow after putting Emma to bed. "We need a plan. We need to keep her on the go." Snow nodded weakly.

"Any ideas?" She mumbled into her pillow.

"Well…" David said hesitantly. "I could begin to teach her to sword fight?"

"Absolutely not." Snow replied. Had her husband lost the plot?

"Oh come on Snow, not with real swords! Just wooden ones. Please? You know I would never hurt her. This is one of the things I had really wanted to do with her growing up. Please let me." David pleaded. Snow turned and saw he was giving her his puppy dog eyes- which were too similar to her daughter's.

"Fine." Snow sighed. David's face broke into a massive grin. He leaned forward to kiss his wife, but she held him back. "But so help me David, if she comes home with so much as one bruise on your head be it. Understood?" David nodded, his wife could be scary when she wanted to be. Snow smiled and kissed his cheek. "Good, sweet dreams dear."

The next morning, David had taken Emma out for sword fighting lessons. She had been excited- until she found out they were actually incredibly boring. Emma rolled her eyes as David fixed her positioning with the sword.

"I thought learning to sword fight with you would be a lot more fun." She mumbled. David chuckled lightly.

"I'm afraid everyone needs to start with the basics. You need to have these so firmly in your head so that when you're in battle, they come naturally. Not that you're ever going to be in battle, of course, but it doesn't hurt to learn to defend yourself.

"Who says I'll never be in battle?" Emma asked boldly. "I'm going to fight bad people like you and mommy!" David smiled as he gently flicked Emma's nose.

"I say you're never going to be in any battle. I'm never giving anyone the chance to hurt you. Besides, your mother was reluctant to let you use the wooden swords with me. By reluctant I mean I was threatened with my life if you came home with as much as a bruise. Do you really think she'll let you anywhere near a battlefield?"

"You guys do battles." Emma said, pouting. David smirked slightly. She was so like Snow.

"Because neither of us have parents to stop us. Sorry sweetie, you do. So no battles for Emma."

"So you think…" Emma muttered under her breath. David raised his eyebrow at her, letting her know he'd heard her. David couldn't help but smile, Emma had turned her charm on sensing trouble.

"Well," David said, swinging the bag with the wooden swords over his back and picking his daughter up and setting her on his shoulders. "Nobody can deny you're my child, you little charmer." Emma gave a little giggle, she wasn't done learning yet.

"Hey baby!" Snow called as she heard Emma running into the living room. "Did you have fun sword fighting with daddy?" Emma nodded eagerly, but Snow could see she had something she wanted to say. Snow bent down in front of her. "What is it?" She asked. "Did you get hurt using the swords? I warned your father…" Snow said, getting up to tell David off.

"No!" Emma called, stopping Snow. She turned around again.

"Well what is it then? I know you have something you want to say. Spit it out Em."

"Mom…" Emma said nervously. Snow looked at her daughter suspiciously.

"Yes…" She replied. Emma had her cute grin on- that could only mean trouble.

"Since daddy taught me how to use a sword… would you teach me how to ride a horse? I wanna be like a proper princess." Emma told her mother- looking up at her with big eyes. Snow sighed in relief- was that all? She was worried it was going to something much worse than that. Snow stroked Emma's cheek.

"Of course angel. We'll get daddy to come as well though, that way he can help me." Emma jumped up and down excitedly and clapped her hands.

"Thank you mommy thank you!" She squealed. Snow beamed, she loved seeing her baby so happy.

Soon, they were down at the stables. It turned out the horses had made it to Storybrooke as well, including Snow and Charming's. For teaching Emma- Snow was using her horse Sugar. The bond between the two had never been lost. Sugar instantly recognised Snow and nudged her beautiful white nose against Snow's head. Snow giggled as she stroked Sugar's silvery mane.

"Hey there cutie, I've got a special job for you- think you're up to the task?" Sugar stared at Snow as if understanding. "Good." Snow said. She managed to assemble sugar's saddle and reigns and mount her as easily as she had done twenty nine years ago. She then motioned to David to come over with Emma. David brought Emma over to the horse. Emma was suddenly not so sure she wanted to do this- that was one big horse! David squeezed Emma's shoulders as Snow held her arms out, ready to take Emma.

"Ok Em, ready for a ride?" David asked her. Emma shook her head and cuddled into him.

"Too big" She murmured.

"Emma, look at mommy." Snow said gently. Emma slowly drew away from David's chest and looked at her mom. "Would I ever put you in danger?" She asked her daughter. Emma shook her head. "No, that's right. Now, your daddy's going to take you round the front of Sugar and lift you up to pat his head first, ok?" Emma nodded. David bent down and picked Emma up and took her to face Sugar head on. Emma reached her hand out to pet Sugar, but recoiled quickly when Sugar moved to sniff her hand. At the sight of her mom's smile, she felt brave enough to try again. She gently stroked Sugar's long nose, and giggled when he nuzzled happily into her hand. "See, I told you he'd like you. He certainly did when you were in my tummy." Snow told Emma. Emma looked up at her, awe struck.

"He did?" She asked. Snow nodded in reply.

"Sure did. He was forever rubbing his head against you before he'd let me get on. And then he made sure to ride extra gentle. He must recognise you. Are you ready to ride now?" Emma took a moment before nodding slowly. David walked back around and handed Emma to Snow, who wrapped her arms securely around her daughter.

"We'll go nice and slow at first, ok? And daddy will be holding on." Emma nodded, backing into Snow. Snow couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret- had they raised Emma back home, she would have been on horses since she was a baby- wrapped in a cloth against Snow or David. There would have been no need for fear. But at least they had a chance to help her now.

Emma was soon no longer afraid of trotting around the little pen with Snow behind her, even without David holding onto the reins. Snow was even confident enough to let Emma have a go by herself.

"Mommy, look at me!" Emma shouted over proudly as she went slowly around the pen with Sugar.

"Great job baby!" Snow called back. She was standing watching at the edge, wrapped in David's arms.

"She's a natural." David said proudly, watching his daughter.

"Suppose that's only to be expected- coming from our land and having us as parents." Snow replied. That's when it happened. Not too far away from the pen, a gunshot had fired off. Sugar was not used to guns, and was clearly startled. She raised her front legs from the ground and Emma screamed.

"Emma!" Snow yelled, running over with David. But they were too late to catch Emma before she hit the ground. David pulled Sugar away to calm him while Snow rushed to Emma. Fortunately, she'd been wearing a helmet. "Sweetheart, are you ok?" Snow asked. Emma nodded, but her bottom lip was quivering. She suddenly launched herself into Snow's arms.

"Mommy!" She screamed.

"You're alright, mama's got you." Snow said soothingly, checking over as best she could whilst her daughter clung to her. As far as she could tell, Emma was alright- just shaken.

"Baby, are you ok?" David asked, as he came over from tying Sugar to the post. Emma was too busy crying into Snow's shoulder to answer her daddy, worrying him.

"She's fine." Snow replied. "Just a little shaken. Sugar ok?" Snow asked. David nodded, he was furious.

"Who was stupid enough to fire a gun near a stable?! I'm going to find them and give them a piece of my mind!" David growled, ready to storm off. Snow could see he was serious too. She shook her head.

"David, I know you're angry because Emma could have been hurt, but you need to be reasonable here. How could they possibly have known Emma was out here on Sugar? They will have had a perfectly reasonable explanation for firing it, I'm sure. Right now, we need to get Emma back on the horse." Snow said calmly.

"What?" Both David and Emma asked.

"Snow, are you sure that's a good idea?" David asked, concerned. "She could get hurt. I don't want to risk it." Meanwhile, Emma shook her head vigorously into Snow's shoulder, clearly not liking the idea any more than her father.

"Emma baby," Snow said calmly, holding Emma out so they could be eye to eye. "I know you're scared, and it's completely understandable. But you have to get back on that horse. I don't want you to be afraid of horses, and the best way to beat your fear is to conquer it head on, ok? I'll hold the reins again, just to make you feel safe. Will you do it for mommy?" Emma looked her mother in the eye. She was terrified, but she also trusted her mother.

"Ok." She agreed quietly. Snow pulled Emma back into a tight hug.

"That's my brave girl. Come on, I know you can do this." Snow carried Emma back over to Sugar and when she was ready, put her back on the house. They then went around the pen a few times until Snow was satisfied that Emma didn't seem so nervous. By the time they had got Emma home, she was exhausted. They barely managed to force some food into her before they had to carry her up to bed. Snow kissed her head as she tucked her in, not believing that the weekend had passed so quickly.

"Sleep well, angel. I'll see you in the morning." Snow whispered, before tip toeing out of the room.

The next morning, David had gone to pick up some shopping before Henry got home leaving Snow to wait for Emma.

"Morning," Emma said, stretching.

"Good morning, sleep well?" Snow asked, sliding over the bowl of cereal she'd prepared for Emma. Emma smiled gratefully as she sat down to eat it.

"Yeah, pretty good. Listen, about yesterday... thanks for getting me back on the horse. I have a funny feeling I would never be sitting on a horse again if you hadn't." Emma said with a slight smile.

"Any time." Snow replied. "That goes for lessons too. I'm always willing to show you a thing or two." Emma was suddenly very focused on her bowl.

"So… would you mind if we tried tomorrow? I mean, only if you want to…" Snow made Emma look up.

"Emma that would be wonderful." Snow replied, and Emma could see how much it had meant to her. Not that it didn't mean just as much to her, she just wasn't sure she was ready for her mom to see her clap her hands in excitement, so she settled for a happy grin. Tomorrow would be a good day.

Well, I hope it was worth the wait! Next chapter already in progress!