Killian cursed under his breath as David showed him for the third time how to shift gears. Steering he understood, as he could compare it to his ship and understand moving the steering wheel would move the vehicle in another direction. Gas and braking were a little harder, but he soon figured those out with the help of David's yelling, "Hit the brake, Hook!" when a tree loomed in front of the window.
"You wanted to learn this," David said, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Now calm down and let's try it again."
Emma would have been a calmer teacher, but he admittedly hated to disappoint her. She would have soothingly told him that he was doing a good job. She would have kissed him when he got something right and smiled consolingly when he messed something up. Unlike David, Killian would not have to worry too much about her bringing up his shortcomings.
"I am trying," Killian said doggedly. "It's not that easy of a task, you know. People in this realm are not born with the ability to drive already ingrained in them. They must learn. I am learning at somewhat of a disadvantage." Her grimaced at the grating sound coming from the vehicle.
"You're not doing a bad job," David conceded. "You'll owe me a new clutch and transmission by the time this is over, but you're going to learn. What do you say we take a break and get a bite at Granny's?"
Killian managed to maneuver them toward Granny's unscathed and even found and secured a parking spot within walking distance. The two men braved the cold day to enter the establishment and be greeted by Granny herself, who was telling some of the patrons of a new selection on the menu.
David checked his cell phone again as they slid into a booth and both ordered their coffee. His eyes and mouth fell at the sight of whatever was on the tiny screen and he shoved the offending device into his pocket.
"Problem?" Killian asked, nodding to where the cell phone had sat on the table. "An emergency?"
"Not hardly," David told him. "Leroy got drunk last night and one of the dwarfs hid his keys. So now he's claiming that his van was stolen. It should only take a few minutes to settle." He ran a hand through his sandy hair. "It was just another late night last night and I don't really have it in me to go deal with their arguing and shenanigans."
"It sounds as though it is a minor incident," Killian answered. "Yet I can see why it would be difficult to deal with such while lacking proper rest."
David looked toward the counter to see if their coffee was on its way. He frowned at the sight of no waitress near the near empty pots. "Usually Emma and I have been able to split such responsibilities, but…" He paused and looked toward his son-in-law. "Mary Margaret was very concerned about Emma yesterday. She said that Emma was in tears. Then you guys skipped out on the dinner last night…"
Killian shifted in his seat, fully expecting David to grill him on the whereabouts of his daughter. "Emma's struggling with a few things," he admitted. "I'm afraid that she's become a bit wary over her role and the constant influx of vitriolic citizens." Killian flashed a smile to the waitress who delivered their drinks and ordered for himself as David sputtered out his own order.
"That's hardly a new occurrence around here," David said. "We are always under siege of some kind."
"Aye," Killian said, lifting his cup and swirling it a bit before taking a sip of the hot liquid. "She's feeling a bit overwhelmed that such things fall to her and that perhaps she is not capable of balancing that responsibility with the other areas of her life. As for last night, she seemed unwilling to leave the house and face everyone. I did not push her to do so." He frowned. "I understand and accept her role as the savior to these people, but she is struggling to understand how she can meet their expectations and those of her own making."
David nodded glumly. "I noticed that she was a bit upset the other night, but I didn't think it was anything to be concerned with really."
Killian sighed again, his brow furrowing as he thought of the words that would most accurately portray the situation but not betray Emma's confidence either. "She's very much an all or nothing person," Killian told him. "Emma does very few things that she can't throw herself into completely. And when she is being pulled in different directions, she chooses to care for others first and herself last. It is quite an admirable trait, but right now she's not doing well with that at all."
"Why now?" David asked himself aloud, feeling the phone in his pocket ping and buzz again. "Oh…she's concerned about Henry and the baby?"
"Aye," Killian nodded. "She and I both suffered wounds the night of the attack. I realized afterward that she was a bit shaken by that. She has become very closed off to putting herself or anyone else she cares about at risk. That's a large part of it."
"I didn't realize," David said, shaking his head slowly. "It makes sense though."
"Her strength and confidence are based in her ability to defeat any enemy," he said. "The opposite of that to her is being vulnerable. That's how she is feeling at the moment. While I can identify it, I can't seem to shake her of these feelings."
At the conclusion of the meal, David rushed out to respond to a few of the calls he'd received. However, his daughter was never far from his mind. When a call came in just a little piece away from her house, he thought it was a sign and decided to head over. She greeted him with a wary but careful smile on her face.
"I updated a few of the case files today from here," she said, pointing to a stack of papers on the dining room table next to her laptop. "I think two or three of them can probably be closed out."
"That's good," David said, cautiously examining her face. She looked rested though there were light circles under her eyes and less fire in them than normal. "I was actually wondering if you might be coming back to work soon."
She looked at the stack, her eyes dropping. "I am trying to do a few things," she said. "But truthfully I'm not sure that this is the right career for me."
David's body went stiff and he was that she was giving him a side eye, almost begging him to understand and accept. "That would be your choice," he said, "but I'm not sure it is the right one for you. You love what you do. You always seem to gravitate toward being there for other people, taking care of them, helping them find their happy endings." He swallowed. "You were born for it, but I understand it is hard to do that all the time."
"I'm just wondering when it is going to be over," she said sadly. "Every time I think that we've defeated the worst of them, it comes back. I can't build the life that I need to build for Henry and this baby with that over my head all the time." She gripped the dining chair and shook her head. "When we call Ruby and ask her to help us track someone or when we ask Leroy to help us destroy something, it isn't their lives at stake. They do it and go home. They get a good night's sleep and tomorrow they go on like nothing has happened." She shifted her weight and saw that he wasn't responding.
He pulled out one of the chairs and motioned for her to take a seat while he sat in the one next to it. "Honey," he said. "Is this about your magic? Is this about you not being able to control it?"
She flopped into the chair, arms crossed and her face showing frustration. "No, it's not. I swear it isn't. It's about the responsibility. That fight with Rumpelstiltskin was about Belle. It was about making Belle feel safe. It was about her wanting away from him. It was about keeping a town full of people safe and out of harms way from three women who wanted to destroy it." She leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling. "Much as I claim I was getting revenge for what he did to Killian or for what they could do to you and everyone else I love, it wasn't my fight. I'm tired of putting myself on the line for this stuff. I'm tired of…"
"Emma," David interrupted her. "Did you know that when your mother was about to turn 16 that there was a horrible drought in the Enchanted Forest?"
Emma looked at him questioningly. "And so Regina did a spell and made it rain?"
"No," her father said. "Snow was supposed to have this lavish birthday party and every diplomat and person of noble birth had been invited. The menu was astounding and it made everyone's mouth water." He listed the food, which Emma barely recognized. "All of that for maybe 100 guests. Snow was to wear this beautiful gown, but she had grown an inch since the last fitting and it had to be altered. So Snow set out with her attendants to go to the tailor's house and have one last run through with the dress. She passed through the countryside and saw all of the people basically starving."
"She gave them the food, didn't she?" Emma asked. She knew her mother had a good heart like that. She was beautiful inside and out.
"That she did," David answered. "But do you know that some of the people in the kingdom thought that her gesture was one of showing off? They criticized her for it. Some people threw the food out rather than eat it. Others ate it and complained that it was not up to their own standards. A few even said the food made them sick."
"That's not fair," Emma said, thinking how disheartened her mother must have been to have sacrificed and not received any acknowledgement.
"No," David agreed. "It wasn't fair. Your mother is a good woman and her heart was in the right place. But it can become challenging to continue to give your all when it feels like nobody appreciates what you do."
Emma looked down at her hands. "I'm not expecting thank you's or parades. I just feel like I'm giving up so much for others and nobody wants to give those things up for any us."
David nodded. "Emma, you've had to learn to be the savior. You've got a great knack for law enforcement and a passion for it as well. You're an amazing daughter, wife, mother, sister, and friend. But there is something you haven't learned to be yet. You are a princess. And while you roll your eyes at the idea, the truth is that the people of this town look to your for guidance and leadership. You've got two choices. Accept that role and understand what it means or shut down completely. The choice is yours to make."
