Author's Note: SO excited to be back with this fic and for everyone who is staying with me. You guys are the best! I LOVE getting reviews. (Who doesn't?!) and I relish the chance to get both positive and negative reviews because I truly believe it helps my writing progress! However one of the reviews I got this time seemed to stem from a misunderstanding and it is the same misunderstanding that has occurred in past chapters so I really wanted to clear it up for everyone who is reading so that they can see David as the wonderfully protective dad I see him as. Thanks to all my reviewers and readers and I hope to hear from all of you again soon!
To the guest who said this: "OMG. David would never in a million years act like this. What complete and utter BS to trash Emma's beloved father." You're adorable and thank you so much for reviewing! Please allow me to explain Davids out of character behavior. (Because it is definitely out of character from the man in the amazing TV show, Once Upon A Time.) So because this isn't the first time someone has been a bit upset about OOC David, I'm going to clear it up again to try to get everyone on my page here. The fact of the matter is...that isn't the same David. We are our experiences, they create the people we are today. David here in my AU, hasn't had so many of the experiences that David in the show had, and has had others to replace them. He is a different man with different priorities, and keeping his daughter, the one he watched grow up and the one he has a full life of memories with safe is his ultimate priority. Given that, I don't see this David as 'bad' in the slightest. He is protective. He is angry in a way that makes sense given what he knows about the situations unfolding before him. I am NOT trashing David - who is one of my favorite characters by the way! - I just feel that his character would be angry and defensive...for now. We will have to wait and see how that unfolds later on:)
David
"I'm going to cut a deal with Rumpelstiltskin." The words came out of her lips casually, as though she'd just mentioned a plan to go to the store, or to change her dress.
"Like hell you are." I growled.
"As much as I hate to agree with his majesty, cutting a deal with the Dark One is highly ill advised, love." The Pirate spoke out.
"He'll do it." She spoke with utter assurance.
"What makes you think that? Because you gave him some pillows and you've been all buddy-buddy with him for a few days?" I asked angrily.
"He'll do it for Bae." She looked significantly at Hook whose eyes shifted towards the boy, his face softening.
"Family always was important to him." The pirate murmured in response.
"You can count on us, lass." Another pirate, one whose name was less familiar to me spoke up as well, the rest of the motley crew I'd sent after my daughter nodding like this conversation was anywhere near normal.
"I'm going to need a hell of a lot more explanation before anyone goes anywhere." I growled. Emma turned to me, her eyes softer.
"What do you want to know, dad. I can answer your questions while we prepare." I stared at her, my mouth open but words refused to come out. I was so clueless I didn't even know what questions I should be asking. "Great. Nice chat."
"Forgive us if this is all a little much to take in Emma." Snow added, always the calm one. "I mean, you managed to live a whole different life without us even knowing, it might take a few moments to let that all sink in."
"Well while you're all sinking, I'm going to go visit Rumpelstiltskin."
"Emma, are you really sure-"
"Regina, how does he feel about family?"
"Loyal to the point of absurdity."
"This boy in my arms is his grandchild. Tell me again why he's not going to help us."
"Baelfire." She replied. Emma nodded.
"Come on then." Regina replied. "Let's go ask for his help."
"You've got to be kidding me."
"David, you're a bit behind right now. I'll explain later." Regina spat out. "In the meantime, just go with it."
Emma
Henry was back. Henry, and Killian, and all the others, my family was home. But I couldn't focus on that, because a psychotic witch was about to come for my son. Well guess what Clarissa the Bitch, my magic has only grown since the last time we went head to head, not to mention I'm not so careless anymore. You took my son from me once, but it wasn't about to happen again. I would sell my soul to the devil in order to protect Henry, in fact, that was what I was on my way to go do right now.
"Dark One." I called out upon entering the cavern.
"Ugh. You're happy. What's changed?"
"Don't sound so utterly disgusted with me, you're about to get real happy, too."
"I doubt it." I walked up to his cage, smiling.
"You want to get out of here?"
"For what purpose?" He replied mournfully. "It's not like I can go searching for my son, thanks to you."
"Rumpelstiltskin, I'd like you to meet Henry." I nodded my head back to where my son was now engaged in rapt conversation with my pirate. Rumple's face lit up and his eyes grew wide.
"You mean..."
"Your grandson. Clarissa tricked me. Hook brought him back to me. Now Clarissa's coming to claim him. I need your help to protect him. I can get you out of this cage. Deal?"
"Exact parameters, my dear?"
"You can't hurt Henry, not ever."
"Why would I-"
"He has the Heart of the Truest Believer, that's why Clarissa wants him."
"I have no need of such things. I will never hurt him."
"Good. I'm going to include Killian in this. I know you've got some grudge against him but you can't hurt Killian, and you can't take revenge on my parents or Regina or anyone else you deem responsible for any of your suffering."
"What would my purpose be, exactly?"
"Protecting your grandson. Finding out if Belle is really dead. Becoming the sort of man who deserves to have a grandson that wonderful. Or whatever else you like. Help me fight this bitch and I don't care what you do."
"I agree to your demands. Let me out."
"I'll go get the counter-curse. I have it written down somewhere." Regina muttered, gesturing to the lock curse on the bars.
"Don't bother." One wave of my hand and Rumple was free, with one caveat. Two silver bands wrapped around his wrists.
"If you break any of our agreements, those will lock together and drag you back here." I warned him. I thought about the magic I'd summoned for a moment. "Probably summon anything touching you too, for that matter, so be careful."
"Of course, dearie. Now let me see him."
Snow
I wanted to be supportive, of course I did but...to watch the Dark One playing with a little boy with that light in his eyes was weirding even me out. The boy, Henry, he seemed to like Rumpelstiltskin, but he also seemed to want to spend most of his time around Emma and the pirate. Speaking of the pirate...they way he looked at Emma, the way he acted around her, it was like she was the most prized jewel in the world and he was terrified of dropping it.
Then there was the change I saw in my daughter. I suppose it was something I'd been noticing for a while now. When she came back after her little adventure with Baelfire, which of course I now realized was much more fraught and traumatic than I'd initially assumed, not to mention longer. Several years. I'd missed years of my own daughter's life. And she'd gone and become a different person in those years. Understandably of course, she had lost love, felt guilt and blame for the death of her dearest friend, and born him a son who was taken away from her too. I wondered at her ability to appear normal, to act as though nothing was the matter around us.
But then again, maybe that had been her way of coping. My world was changing around me. Charming wasn't handling it very well, but he'd come around. He always did, and he loved Emma more than anything in the world. He was being protective now, and he worried for her, and his mind was in panic mode and he was lashing out and acting irrationally. But he'd come around. Regina, it seemed, was already around. She was prepping a series of spells, of protections for our kingdom, and for Emma and the boy. Rumpelstiltskin was ready to take on a witch. He'd even changed his clothes for the occasion. The dwarves were preparing themselves and evacuating most of the people out of the nearby villages and cities, they didn't need to be anywhere near this fight when it happened. We had to protect our people.
And then there was the pirates. They took commands from their Captain, as one would expect, but they also took commands from Emma. Not just commands, she'd give meaningful looks or gestures and one or more of them would leap to their feet and run off to follow her unspoken words. She seemed at ease with them. She seemed more in control of herself when she was around them, and loathe as I was to admit it, she seemed... happy. She seemed happy with them. A boy, closer to the age I'd assumed her to be, followed her around like a puppy and were the circumstances of this moment different, I would be taking the time to laugh about the way Captain Hook glared at him and undercut him every time he attempted to charm my daughter. But Emma would just smile and take the pirate's hand and murmur something in his ear which would soften his gaze and they'd go back to amusing Henry. Amusing her son. Amusing my grandchild. Tears filled my eyes, and it was a great surprise amidst the preparations for a battle, and the trying morning we'd all had, to find that they were tears of happiness.
Author's note: Please review. Even though I'm awful and don't update regularly and you probably all hate me and I'm so sorry I'm really trying to wrap this thing up but it just isn't coming together ahhhhh. I would love some direction and suggestions on what you might like to see happen in a review or a PM. Thanks! Love you guys! xoxo - E
