This is a shorter chapter than usual, but a sweet one. Some daddy charming and family bonding fluff. I'd like to give a shout out to everyone who has reviewed. The last guest to review, i can't reply privately to you because I don't know who you are, so I'll reply here. Please don't be nervous about leaving reviews, they really fuel my muse. Also, it kinda seemed like maybe not everyone wanted a Regina/Emma/Zelena/Anslie thing, but I kinda do lol and It sounds like you do too. So as long as I don't get too many people saying they don't want it, you'll have to stick with me for it :P Also, I have started posting this story on Archive of our own, but fear not, I will not be leaving ff. i love FF so much! Anyway, onward and upwards. Here's chapter 25

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Ch. 25

A few hours later, Emma woke up and rolled over. For some reason, she just couldn't sleep. She got up and used the bathroom before making her way out to the balcony. She squinted her eyes and noticed someone was on the beach, so she put her contacts in, grabbed a robe, and headed down. Outside, she smiled seeing who it was. "Dad? What are you doing out here?"

David smiled softly at her. "I couldn't sleep. I thought maybe some fresh air would help." He unfolded two chairs and sat in one. "Want to join me?"

"Sure." She sat down and took a deep breath, looking out into the moonlit ocean. "I know we have the sea at home, but there's a difference with this one. It seems more…peaceful."

David smiled softly. "You're right. It seems different." He looked over at his daughter. "Emma? Are you really okay with this baby news? Be honest with me."

Emma looked at him. "Dad, is this why you can't sleep? Because you're worried about me?"

David sighed. "Maybe that's part of it, Em. I just…I don't ever want to do anything that would cause a wedge between us."

Emma let out a breath. "Dad, I love you and nothing will change that. Yes, I do get a weird feeling when you say you're having more kids, but it's not bad. I do fear I'll be forgotten or even replaced, but then I get over that fear." She chewed on her lip. "I can't very well tell you and mom not to have more kids when I've got a family of my own. You two deserve that as well, and now's your chance to have that."

David reflected on that for a moment. "I do hope you do get over that fear Emma, because no one could ever replace you, nor are we even looking to do that. We'd never forget you. We talk about you every day. Emma, we love you so much and we wish we had been able to have more time with you. But as you said, you have a family of your own and honestly, sometimes we feel like we've been forgotten. I don't say this to upset you, Princess, but we're being honest here."

Emma looked at him. "I…I never meant to make you feel that way, dad. I'm sorry that I have. I think of you and mom all the time. I just…life gets so busy and with Ry and her cancer, Oliver getting older, I haven't had a lot of time." Emma was on the verge of tears, feeling such guilt.

"Emma, I know. Please don't cry, we're not mad. It's our fault too as we don't reach out to you as we should. We know you're busy and the last thing we want is to add to that. But Emma, we do miss you. Please know that we want to be in your life."

"Oh daddy, I want you in my life. I…I don't know what to say except I'm so sorry I've made you feel like this. What can I do to make it better?"

"First, please don't feel guilty. I didn't bring this up to make you feel guilty. Maybe we can all work on our time management and have one day a month where it's just your mom, you, and me? I know you have one on one time with your kids and that comes first, but if mom and I could just get a few hours of you for one day a month, we'd be so happy."

Emma nodded, wiping her tears. "Of course you can. Dad, I wish you would have said something sooner. I'm so touched you want that time with me. Maybe our families need to do more together too. I mean, I see DJ almost every day, but maybe we should do family dinners on Sundays or something."

David smiled. "I'd really like that, Emma and I know your mom would too. She's pretty jealous that Cora gets to see you all every day."

"Well she shouldn't be." Emma chuckled. "I think Cora is getting sick of Regina and I nagging her about taking her pills and eating right. Mom wouldn't like that either."

David also chuckled. "No, that's true. I'll talk to her and you talk to Regina. Sunday dinners sound perfect."

Emma gave a nod. "We can switch off houses. Henry's back with us on Sundays so he'd be there."

"Emma, please know that even if we have a girl, she's our second daughter and will never be referred to as our first daughter. I know that it would be hard for you, I do get that. I wish I could make it easier, but I also think if you bond with her – if she's a girl – like you have with DJ, you'll see that you have no reason to feel territorial. Also, you will always be my Princess."

Emma smiled a bit. "Thanks dad. I promise you that I will take the time to get to know this baby and I will talk to you, mom, Regina, Mal, or Archie, or all of you if I start to have bad feelings. Just be patient with me too, dad. Just remember that I have to go through things on my time. I can promise you that I know you love me, that I know I won't be replaced." She then gave a small chuckle. "Is it weird that I'm totally okay with you calling me Princess when that's also what Regina calls me when we…um…have our adult time?"

Both Emma and David blushed, but the later let out a laugh. "Maybe you should ask Archie that question." He joked. "I mean, you don't get the same feelings when I say it that you do when Regina says it, right?"

"Oh, hell no! When you say it, I feel special and loved. When she says it, I feel…"

"I don't need to know. As long as it's different."

The two sat in a comfortable silence for a bit and just as Emma was about to say that she was going back to bed, something in the ground started moving. "Dad, you see that?"

David nodded. "Yes, what is it?"

"I don't know. It's like something is trying to…oh my gosh! Dad look! Aww so cute!"

David grinned at the baby sea turtles as they popped out of the ground. "I'm going to get your mom. This is pretty cool." Carefully he went inside as Emma got her phone out.

"Emma? Where are you? Why are you calling my phone?" Regina was sleepy, but now worried as well.

"Babe, get the older kids and come out here."

"What? Why?"

"Baby just trust me. This is a once in a lifetime moment." Emma then hung up and called Anslie's phone. "Anslie, get Cora and Zelena and come out to the beach. You won't want to miss this." Emma was about to call Maleficent when she heard a voice behind her.

"I'm here. I could hear your excitement with my dragon hearing. What's going on?"

"Look, Mal." Emma pointed to the baby sea turtles. "They're hatching."

Mal smiled a bit and called Lacey. "Baby, bring Lilly and come outside."

In a matter of minutes, the family was on the beach all watching the mother nature in action before them. Thousands upon thousands of baby sea turtles were hatching and making their way to the ocean.

"Oh mama, can't we catch one and keep it?" Eva asked Emma.

"No baby. These are not pets. They need to go to the ocean and make a life for themselves."

"Is their mama waiting for them?" Ry asked.

Emma shook her head. "No baby. Turtles don't have mommies once they're born. They may find other turtles to stay with, but they raise themselves."

"That's sad." She said, looking down at the turtles. "At least they have each other."

Emma smiled softly and picked Ry up. "They do, baby girl, and there's others out in the sea. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe they will find their mama's. I guess I just don't know for sure. I only know what the books say."

Ry smiled and kissed her mama's cheek. "You didn't have your parents, but you found them. I bet the turtles do too."

Emma smiled and looked at her parents who were making sure DJ didn't try to pocket any of the turtles. "If they're parents are anything like my parents, I sure do hope they find them."