Emma jogged up the stairs of the mansion and took a quick look around.

This was going to be her home one day…at least until she was of an age where Jefferson wasn't totally freaked out about how old she was. Which her father said wouldn't be until she was 50 but now that she was older, she was certain that he was exaggerating.

But then again, maybe not.

The lights were on when she had arrived, which meant that he was probably waiting for her. He probably saw what had happened today and knew that she was going to be here to see him sooner or later.

When he opened the door, she saw that his eyes were blearily. He had waited up for her or at least he tried to and then fell asleep.

"Well, if it isn't Storybrooke's little mixed martial art champion," he rubbed his eyes. Emma scowled which amused him briefly before he looked serious, "Regina didn't hurt you, did she?"

"No," Emma said, "Not really."

He looked down at her, "Your father didn't hurt Regina too badly, did he?"

"Almost."

He opened the door more so that she could come in, "Call your father, and let him know that you got here safely."

He followed me," Emma said, "In his car. He thinks I didn't notice but I did."

"Then he'll probably want to take you home after we talk."

She sat on the couch and nudged off her shoes. She liked the rug that he had on his floor, it was white and fuzzy and she didn't want it dirty. Maybe when they went back to the fairy tale land then he would bring this rug with him and the many babies they would have would learn to roll, and crawl, and walk on it. That would be nice.

"Do you think my dad loves me?" she asked.

Jefferson looked at her from his spot near the fireplace, "Well he's raised you for twelve years and bit my head off more times than I care to count and has come close to beating up several people who might threaten you, I would like to think that some of that is fatherly love."

Emma rested her chin on her knees, "He says he's a monster."

"He was," Jefferson confirmed, "And I wish that I could say that you changed that but other than him having his power stripped, and being slightly more withdrawn, he's not really that different."

"Do you think he's evil?"

Jefferson was careful with his answer, "I think that he's doing evil things…I don't know why or what his reasoning is and I doubt you will either until it's completely necessary for him to tell you. However I think here…and maybe slightly before you were born…some of the things that he did was to protect you. That's not to say that it's your fault though."

"Do you think he loves me enough to change when it's time for me to save everyone?"

Jefferson sat across from her, "You're not old enough to worry about these things."

"I have to worry about them!" she said, "When I saw him and how he was looking at Regina today when he got to the school- I thought he was going to kill her. It scares me sometimes with what I know that he can do"

Jefferson looked down guiltily, "You don't think your love for him and his love for you is going to save him?"

"What if he loves me?" Emma started and teared up, "But it won't be enough? What if when I turn 28 and my destiny goes against his agenda…what if we're put on opposing sides of everything? What if he turns back into what he was and I can't save him?"

Something she said seemed to strike Jefferson but she didn't understand why, "If he doesn't change for you…if he's not willing to stay and be the father that he needed to be and provide the emotional stability that you need as a father then he's not worth it."

Emma stared at him. She knew his story, it was in the book. However, they hardly talked about Grace; she knew that the topic was too hard for him to even think about.

"What happened to you and Grace wasn't your fault," she told him.

"Wasn't it?" He asked, "I should've known better than to get involved in that world again- her mother didn't come back and I took the same risks and paid the price."

Emma lowered her head, "I should go. It's cold outside and I imagine my dad's waiting for me."

"I do think he loves you," Jefferson said, "In his own little way."

"I hope so," Emma said and pulled on her shoes, "And you're wrong about how much you're worth as Grace's father. The fact that you're scared to take her away and wake her up to having two sets of memories is proof enough of that."

She expected him to call her a young child who didn't know what she was talking about but he was silent for a few minutes, "I don't condone you fighting, especially with Regina nearby. But you should know that I thank you for protecting her today."

Emma looked down; she didn't say anything because she wasn't sure what to tell him…

She slipped out of the front door and found her father's car parked outside. She wrapped her coat tighter around herself and ran to the heated automobile.

Her father was silent, "Remind me never to allow you to come to his house this late again."

She ignored him, "I love you."

He stopped what he was doing and looked at her. They said it to each other countless times over the years but this was one of the few that Emma had really thought about what her love and devotion as well as his love and devotion to her meant or might mean in the future

He gave her a small smile and kissed her cheek, "I love you too."

The ride back to the house was quiet after that. There was just nothing more to say

A/N: Got started on a new story this week, it's called "The Greatest Irony" and it's a look into Jefferson's life story. Could use some love. Enjoy!

So do you guys think that Gold loves his daughter?