Emma groaned and pulled the covers over her head in response to the bright sunshine pouring in through her window. She was trying to will herself back to sleep, when it registered that she had woken up alone. She remembered falling asleep the night before with the warm, protective presence of her parents surrounding her. She reached for the pillow next to her and buried herself in the lingering scent of her mother's lavender and vanilla soap. She was in that drowsy place between sleep and awake. It was the place where Emma usually realized she was waking up from a wonderful dream to face reality, but today, the dream was real. She was vaguely aware of the sound of the door opening and felt the bed dip as someone sat on it.

"Hey, Princess," her father whispered, "time to get up."

Emma resisted, happy where she was. He shook her gently.

"Come on, I made you breakfast."

Reluctantly Emma sat up. "You made breakfast? Something other than cereal?"

"Don't act so surprised. Just because I don't cook doesn't mean I can't."

"Where's Mary Margaret? Did she go home?"

David and Mary Margaret spent the morning discussing whether to tell Emma about the change in their relationship and decided that for now they would say nothing. Plans were already in place for them to spend the day together at the Christmas festival and for Mary Margaret to stay at the farm overnight for Christmas Eve, so hanging out together wouldn't throw up any red flags. They weren't trying to hide things from her, they simply wanted to keep everything about Emma until after Christmas.

"She left early this morning to make sure everything was ready for the Christmas festival today."

Emma threw the covers back and stood, jumping up and down on the bed excitedly.

"Yay, it's going to be the best day."

She couldn't wait for the festival. There would be rides, and food, and games, and a parade, and best of all the three of them were going to spend the whole day together. David laughed as he scooped her up and set her on the floor.

"Hey Monkey, no jumping on the bed."

In the kitchen, Emma's eyes bugged out at the sight on the table. There were three large stacks of pancakes, a plate full of bacon, and a tray full of fruit.

"You cooked all of that. Even I can't eat that much."

"I didn't know what kind of pancakes you liked," David explained. "There's banana, chocolate chip, and plain ones. There's also fresh fruit, extra chocolate chips, and whipped cream to put on top, and of course maple syrup."

"Can I have one of each? And can I have three plates so they can each have different toppings?"

"Whatever Princess Emma wants."

Emma smiled. This was certainly a long way from mornings of stale cereal and sour milk. Or stealing pop tarts from the store (but David didn't need to know about that).

"So, have you ever been to a carnival?" David asked as they sat down to eat.

"Once."

"Really, who took you?"

"Promise you won't get mad if I tell you?"

"Why would I get mad?"

"Because I went by myself. I was eight and a carnival came to the shopping center parking lot about a block from where I was staying. I was living with an old lady who was keeping about six foster kids, most of them babies. I asked her if we could go, but she said she didn't have the time or energy to be traipsing a bunch of little ones around a nasty old carnival. I didn't have any money, but I wanted to go so badly, so I jumped the fence behind the funhouse when no one was looking.

I was having fun just walking around looking at all the lights and rides, but I got lucky. I was watching the tilt-a-whirl and the ride operator asked if I wanted to get on. I told him I didn't have any tickets. He looked at me a minute and then said I could go ahead because the ride wasn't full anyway. Then later I even found some tickets on the ground. I tried to use them to ride the Hammerhead. They call it that because it looks like a giant hammer. It's awesome. It turns you all the way upside down and you don't even fall out. Only when I got to the front of the line, they said I was too short. I went on the Octopus instead. That was fun too, but one day I'm going to ride the hammerhead."

"And nobody noticed you didn't have an adult with you?"

"A few people asked, but I would just say my mom was in the bathroom or buying tickets or something. Most people don't even pay attention."

"What about the lady you lived with? Didn't she notice you were gone?"

"Nah, she had her hands full with all those babies. She was one of the better homes I lived in. She wasn't mean to me and she never said much if I wasn't around as long as I didn't cause any trouble."

"And I don't suppose you consider illegally sneaking into the fairgrounds causing trouble."

"Well, not if you don't get caught, and I'm pretty good at not getting caught."

"Emma Swan, one of these days you and I are going to sit down and have a talk about how you're going to stop doing things like this." His tone was light-hearted, but his face serious.

Emma laughed as she rolled her eyes at him. "I knew you'd be mad."

David folded his arms and playfully pretended to be stern. "You just eat your breakfast young lady."

As he said it, he wondered if he would ever be able to discipline the blonde bundle of mischief. Of one thing he had no doubt, life with a teenage Emma would put him to the test.

Around 10 a.m. they headed to the opening ceremony of Storybrooke's Annual Christmas Eve Festival. Everyone was gathered around the pavilion stage. Mary Margaret gave the opening remarks. She thanked everyone for coming and gave her appreciation for all the sponsors and volunteers. Children from the local dance studio, called Tinkerbell's Tutus, performed. They were followed by the Storybrooke High School choir. Then the contestants for the Christmas Queen pageant were brought up on stage. A teenager named Regina Mills was announced the winner. Emma thought she deserved it. She was the prettiest girl Emma had ever seen and the way she spoke and carried herself was very regal. After the queen gave a short acceptance speech, Mary Margaret declared the booths, exhibits, and rides officially opened, telling everyone to have a good time.

"What should we do first, Emma?" Mary Margaret said as she stepped down from the stage.

"Games. I wanna win a prize."

Emma walked hand-in-hand between them towards the midway. Their first stop was the balloon dart throw, but after several tries by each they went away empty handed. At the basketball toss David won the big prize and picked a yellow monkey

"A monkey for my monkey," he said handing it to Emma.

"Thanks," she said taking the stuffed animal, "but I want to win a prize by myself."

They tried at several more game booths. David won again at the bottle cap toss and gave the snowman prize to Mary Margaret. Emma was getting frustrated while David tried to console her by telling her they were all rigged to make people lose. Unwilling to give up, she dragged them over to the fishbowl game. It was the only one she hadn't tried.

David paid the man and he handed Emma three balls. They had to all land in a bowl to win a prize. She squinted her eyes in concentration as she aimed her ping-pong ball at the first fishbowl. Mary Margaret celebrated when she made it in. The second throw went in as well. She had one more to get in to win.

"You can do it," David encouraged her.

She licked her lips and said a little prayer as she released the last one right into the center of the bowl. She did it.

"I won, I won." She jumped up and down and raised her fists in the air.

Mary Margaret clapped, and David gave her a high five. The man behind the counter brought out a baggie filled with water and a tiny goldfish swimming inside. He handed it to Emma.

"A fish? I won a fish. Look David, I won a real, live goldfish."

David looked at Mary Margaret both thinking the same thing. Would she be allowed to bring a pet into the group home? Would she be devastated if she had to leave it?

"Emma," he said bending down to make eye contact with her, "I'm not sure this is the best time for a fish. Maybe the man has another choice of a prize."

"But I won the fish. We have to give it a home. Please."

Emma's face scrunched up into the cutest pleading pout and he knew he was done for. He stood and took the bag from the man.

"We'll take the fish."

Mary Margaret crossed her arms and gave him a what are you doing look, to which he responded with a look that said don't judge you would have done the same thing. Emma observed the interaction.

"I can tell when you guys do that you know, talk without words. Are you mad?"

David patted the top of her head. "Not at all Princess. We were just thinking that since I already have two pets at my house, maybe the fish could live with Mary Margaret and keep her company. What do you think Emma?"

"I think that's a great idea. That way Mary Margaret won't be lonely. I'm going to name her Bubbles."

Mary Margaret smiled as she told Emma she would love to provide a home for Bubbles. While the child was distracted with her new fish, Mary Margaret looked over her head at David.

"You're such a pushover," she mouthed with a smirk.

David just shrugged like he had no clue what she meant, but what he wanted to do was kiss that smirk right off her face.

While the couple was busy flirting with each other, Emma's attention was captured by the delicious smell of fried dough. She led them over to the funnel cake cart. Emma watched mesmerized as the worker squeezed the dough into the bubbling oil in the shape of a snowflake. When it was crisp and golden brown the cook removed it and covered it in powdered sugar and blue sprinkles before handing the plate to Emma. She was surprised when Mary Margaret not only allowed her to eat it with her fingers, but even used her own slender fingers to break off pieces of the sticky dough to eat herself.

The next place Emma wanted to go was to the rides. The first one they tried was the gravity spinner. Mary Margaret wasn't prepared for the spinning…or being unable to move as g-forces glued her body against the sides of the metal circle. When it got going really fast the floor dropped out from under them. Somehow, they didn't fall, but stayed plastered against the wall. Mary Margaret's eyes were closed, as she concentrated on keeping the funnel cake down. The only positive for her was the sound of Emma's laughter next to her.

"That was amazing," Emma said as they got off. "Let's go again."

Mary Margaret was looking a little green as she reached out for the fence to help keep her on her feet. David eyed her worriedly, but she managed a smile to assure him she was fine.

"It was amazing," she said to Emma not wanting to let on that she didn't agree, "but I need to run and check that everything is going as planned with the festival, and maybe swing by Granny's burger booth and see if she has a temporary place to keep our new friend Bubbles."

"Okay, how about we meet you at the pavilion when it's time for the parade?" David suggested.

Mary Margaret agreed and told them to have fun. David looked back as he and Emma walked away, wanting to stay and make sure she was okay. Turns out hiding his feelings for Mary Margaret was tougher than he thought it would be.

He took Emma by the hand and looked down at her. "Do you know what ride I saw that they have?"

"The hammerhead. I saw it too. Do you think I'm big enough now? I've grown a lot since then."

"I bet you are. Let's go see."

David had to jog to keep up with the girl as she pulled him toward the screams coming from high in the air. There wasn't even a hint of fear as they waited their turn, or as the ride operator locked them in. David had imagined himself needing to encourage the girl and hush her fears, but this child needed no such comforting. The ride started off slow as it swung them back and forth, going just a little higher each time. A smile of excitement covered Emma's entire face, her wide green eyes sparkling, as they were lifted completely upside down. The ride paused at the top for a slit second before it dropped them down the opposite side. A scream of sheer joy erupted from her as the hammer flipped upside down again and again.

All to soon for Emma the ride was over. She bounded off with no ill effects whatsoever, but David felt every bit of his 28 years as the world teetered.

"Can we go again? Pleeeease?" Emma said her hands clapping fast in front of her.

David plastered a smile on his face and directed her to the back of the line, unwilling to disappoint his princess.

David's brain adjusted to the upside-down world on the second ride and he shouted along with Emma as it did its loop. The two of them spent the next hour riding everything and it was the best time Emma ever had. She wished it would never end, but David glanced at his watch and realized it was nearly time for the parade.

"Hey, Monkey, I know you're having fun, but we need to go find Mary Margaret and find a spot to watch the parade."

"Okay," she said trying not to sound disappointed.

The found Mary Margaret among the crowd waiting for the parade. As the music started, David lifted her up onto his shoulders so she could see over the mass of people.

It was a typical small-town parade with decorated trailers full of boy and girl scouts, high school bands, athletes, and baton twirlers. The procession ended with a firetruck covered in Christmas lights, blaring it's siren. Santa was sitting at the top of the truck's ladder waving to the crowds.

After the truck passed and the crowd dispersed David lowered Emma to her feet. Mary Margaret grabbed her hand and rushed them down the street.

"Come on, we need to hurry and get in line so we can see Santa."

Emma pulled her hand away. "What? I'm not going to see Santa."

The brunette looked at her stunned. "Don't you want to sit on his lap and tell him what you want for Christmas?"

"Are you serious? I'm not a baby. I don't believe in Santa Claus, Mary Margaret. No red-suited fat guy has ever dropped down the chimney with gifts for me."

Maybe her attitude was a little mean, but Emma had always hated Christmas. In her life, Christmas was a holiday where the adults got drunk and depressed and moaned about money and greedy rich folks. She usually spent the holiday staying out of their way. The first day of school after the holiday was even worse. Excited kids, shared stories of all the wonderful gifts they got from Santa. She would make up her own stories so she didn't have to tell them there had been no shiny new bike or video game under the tree for Emma. The worst part was being led to believe it was because she was on some imaginary naughty list.

Mary Margaret tried not to show the heartbreak she felt at Emma's words. "I'm sorry Emma, Of course you wouldn't want to sit on his lap. I just thought….well, it's a little silly I guess, but I just wanted a picture."

David stepped in trying to lighten the mood. "Hey, you know what's way better than a picture with Santa? A picture with your family. I could take one of the three of us with my phone."

Emma and Mary Margaret perked up at that. David pulled out his phone and the three of them huddled together in front of the Storybrooke clock tower, smiling as he took a selfie.

The exact moment the camera flashed, as if by magic, a gentle, graceful snow began falling.

Mary Margaret gasped as she looked up, letting the snowflakes fall on her face. She grabbed Emma's hands and twirled them in a circle.

"The snow, it's a sign, Emma."

"A sign of what?"

She stopped twirling and stooped down, placing her hand gently on the girl's cheek.

"Of hope, Sweetheart. It's okay if you don't believe in Santa, but promise me you'll never give up hope. I think this year the three of us are going to get everything we've ever wanted for Christmas."