Storybrooke Riding Centre

Chapter Text

"That's it! Keep your back straight. And don't be afraid to pull back on the reins! Now - come on, ease her slowly around and keep your…yes, yes, that's it! Well done, Hope!" Regina yelled instructions at the eight-year-old blonde, encouraging her, as she held the long lead rope firmly, while the young Appaloosa moved around her in a wide circle, changing from a fast walk, into a slow trot. It was the first time Emma's eldest daughter had been on a horse, despite the girl's father, and grandparents, being accomplished riders. "Now, rise up with her! Keep her heels down. That's it! Good girl! Hands nice and low, good, very good!"

While Regina encouraged her goddaughter, the others watched the lesson from the side of the little arena, her own mother pleased she seemed to be taking to it so well.

"I'm amazed," whispered Emma to Marian, as the pony's pace increased. "I was always nervous around horses, when I was her age. She must get it from Killian…"

"She seems confident, which always helps. Plus, Jessie's a lovely, calm pony, compared to some we've got around here..." Marian's eyes roamed over her wife's pert frame, admiring just how great her ass always looked in riding breeches. "And Gina's wonderful with the younger novices. She's got so much patience with them. Shame she doesn't have any for adults, though!"

"You're allowed to say that..." Emma sniggered. "Whereas I couldn't possibly comment!"

"You know it's true! Would you like to have a go? I can tack you up another horse if you like?"

"Oh, I'm not really a rider. Shameful isn't it? Especially when you consider who my parents are!" she gave her a grin. "Kill's more into it. I've never even had a real lesson. I've spent more time on horses with him, than on my own!"

"What, a royal princess who can't ride? Well we can't have both your girls and Henry able to, but not their own mother now, can we? No, come on - I'll give you a free lesson myself! I'll tell you what, if you're nervous, you come ride on one, with me. Robin's got an older thoroughbred out there, Chester, who's used to having two riding on him. Gina and I usually take him together.

"Chester? I remember that name. Not that bloody great thing Regina rode on with me a few years ago? He's huge!"

"He's the biggest here, but he's a pussycat, trust me! Besides, if I remember rightly, when you were here with Gina, you were on the back? This time, you'll take the reins, and I'll guide you, because I'm a hell of a lot better teacher with adults, than she is!"

After a lot of effort, Marian finally persuaded Emma to try a lesson, promising she'd take it slowly. After getting Regina to go inside and use her magic to kit her out properly in the appropriate riding hat, boots and clothing, the pair walked outside together, where they spotted Robin, in one of the side pens with Honour and Lizzy, who were petting a nervous two day old foal with its mother. But Marian couldn't see her youngest anywhere.

"Robin, you seen Charlotte?"

"She walked down to that copse at the bottom of the lower field, by the stream, with Killian. Want something?"

"I've managed to persuade Emma here to have a lesson, as Hope's having one with Regina. Where's Chester?"

"Hang on - I'll get him up here." Robin grinned, pleased to have an opportunity to show off his skills with his old steed. Bringing his fingers to his mouth, he emitted an ear-piercing whistle.

"Fooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooooooo!"

Sure enough, his faithful chestnut thoroughbred whinnied loudly from down in the dip, just out of sight. Within a matter of seconds, his ears and head appeared over the brow of the hill, the distant ground starting to rumble, as he charged excitedly towards his master. Marian, having seen this many times before, merely rolled her eyes, grinning at her pupil. "Emma, unfortunately, Chester's Robin's horse. So, if we want to ride him, we have to go through this ridiculous little ritual, a pantomime, with Robin showing off!"

"Ignore her, Emma," her husband chided. "She's just jealous! Besides, the girl's here love him, don't you?" he looked over to his grinning daughter and friend, who came to watch.

Just before reaching them, Chester slowed rapidly, moving to a walking pace before finally nudging Robin in the chest with his powerful nose, as he roughly rubbed it. "Good boy!" his master praised, taking his harness. "Philip rode him a little earlier, so he's all ready to go. Emma, let me introduce you…"

"Here we go again…"Marian sighing loudly, resigned to the display. "Remember what I said? The performance?"

"Chester, this here is Emma. And she's a princess! So…how do we greet princesses?" Still holding onto the harness with his right hand, Robin made a theatrical bow, widening his left arm. As he did so, Chester bent his left leg to kneel, keeping the right straighter, bowing his long head for his nose to touch the ground, looking almost in reverence.

"Bravo! That's brilliant!" Emma couldn't stop herself laughing, clapping at the performance, as the girls joined her in applauding. Marian led the still slightly nervous Saviour to them.

"Rob, could you keep him down, till Emma gets on? It'll be easier."

Once the blonde climbed onto its back and settled herself, the horse rose effortlessly from his knee, unnerving her and making her feel like she was twenty foot in the air! She was worried how she was going to be trying to control him, when Marian, her left foot already in a rear stirrup, suddenly sprang up, dropping into the space immediately behind her on the saddle, the woman's front pressed tight against her back.

"That's a bloody long way up. You made that jump look easy!"

"Probably helped by my dear husband's hands on my arse!" Marian glared down at Robin, who was now sporting a smirk. "Any excuse for a quick grope, eh?"

"You know me, my love," he winked at Emma, as he stroked his wife's thigh. "Always at your service!"

"At my cervix more like, you dirty bugger!" she whispered back, loud enough just for him to hear, but not the children. However, Emma did, and roared with laughter at the filthy comment.

Even Robin chuckled. "I don't recall hearing any complaints last night, love?" he whispered back. "Nor any...lack of enthusiasm on your part?"

"Oh do shut up, thief!" Her cheeks started to redden, as she wrapped her arms around Emma, taking the reins and steering the horse away.

Robin merely smiled back. He'd often see his wives riding his beloved stallion together, and they did it seamlessly, moving as one, even to the trot. But seeing Marian with another woman in Regina's spot, was, well, different.

For the next few minutes, Marian, her chin now resting on Emma's shoulder, talked her through the basics. The blonde felt a little weird at first, as the horse slowly walked away from the centre, towards the lower fields. Partly due to the large horse's rolling shoulders, but also because Marian was now pressed tight in against her back, her arms around her, controlling him. I wasn't unpleasant, either. "Alright Emma, just try to relax; because you feel a little bit stiff, and the minute he starts to speed up, it'll start getting uncomfortable unless you loosen up. He may be big, but Chessie's just a softie, when you get to know him. And don't worry, I won't let him go faster, or trot, until you're comfortable. Now here…just take the reins from me? Push your knees in against his flanks. Like this…"

After a little while, with Marian's gentle guidance and encouragement, Emma started to feel a little less nervous, more in control, and she even started to enjoy herself. Her teacher was surprisingly patient. So different to Regina's brutal style (except with children) and Killian's impatience to always go faster. As she started to relax, the thoroughbred seemed to sense it too, gradually quickening his pace, until they found themselves in a gentle canter across the field. Feeling the sudden rush of air in her face, the blonde was starting to get excited.

"This is great!" she shouted into the breeze. "How much faster can this guy go?"

"You want to find out?" she yelled back, over her shoulder, as their riding helmets banged together.

"Yeah, provided you promise not to make him jump, or turn, or anything while I'm on him?"

"Okay. Lean forward, hold onto the reins with me and rise up a little on your feet…" Marian gave him a gentle dig into his flanks, the stallion responding effortlessly by increasing his pace. Within seconds, the extra speed and rush of wind caused Emma to scream with excitement, making the other woman laugh. Marian also leaned forward, her front now almost resting on Emma's back, as she also took hold of the reins, shortening them. "You're quite safe. Just keep him straight, and I'll now hold on to you!" The blonde felt the arms come around her, resting over her stomach as the horse's back seemed to roll with the motion. "If you get worried, pull back gently. He'll be ready."

Meanwhile, at the top of the hill, Robin watched the pair as the stallion banked and turned, for another charge across the field, Honour and Elizabeth having gone back to the young foal. He never noticed another pair amble up alongside him.

"I didn't realise she was going to take her on Chester!" said Regina, holding Hope's hand. "Do you think that's wise? Personally, I think he's a little dangerous, for a novice."

"On the contrary; Emma seemed nervous, and Marian chose Chester just so she could ride with her." As he said it, they heard the blonde's excited scream in the distance, followed by laughter from their wife. "Seems to have been a good idea, too." He glanced down at Emma's daughter. "Hello Hopey; did you enjoy your first lesson with Regina?"

"It was brilliant, Uncle Robin. Gina says we can go outside next week!" She spotted Emma on the large stallion with Marian in the distance. "You got mum to ride? But she hates horses! Gina, can I have a ride on him next?"

"Perhaps when you're a little older, poppet. That's Robin's horse. He's a little too big and wide for your age! But it certainly sounds like your mother's enjoying herself?" An odd feeling came over her as she watched her wife and best friend move into a faster gallop, with resulting screams and laughter. Envy? And envious of which one?

Robin had already spotted the frown. "Something wrong, love?"

"Mmm? Oh…no. I'm just surprised Emma never asked me to give her a riding lesson."

"I think we both know the answer to that one, don't we?"

"Meaning?" The queen's glare firmly in place.

"You. Adults. Patience?"

"Oh, do shut up, thief!"

Robin could only laugh, shaking his head. "You know, someone said those exact words to me, no more than half an hour ago. You're a terrible influence on each other!"

After another twenty minutes or so, Marian again covered Emma's hands with her own as she pulled back the reins, slowing the horse. "Enjoy that? Fancy trying to trot now?"

"It was great! But I'll pass on the trot, if that's okay? My backside's quite sore enough, thanks."

"It certainly takes practise. Okay, I was going to take us back now, but…" she rested her chin once again on Emma's shoulder, nodding her head for her to look in front of them, to a line of trees in the distance, next to a stream. "I can see Killian down there by the river, with Charlie. How about we go find out what they're up to?"

She followed where Marian was looking, seeing two figures. "Sure. he's never actually seen me on a horse without him, before. I reckon he thinks I can't do it!"

"Well now's the time we prove him wrong! As you seem to have got the hang of him, I'll leave you the reins?" She took her hands away, resting them back on Emma's waist. "Turn him, and guide him down there, and if he starts speeding up, you know what to do?"

"Sure…" with the brunette's head now so close to her own, and without the breeze from Chester moving, she noticed a familiar smell, and without thinking, leaned her head back and turned it to sniff the other woman's neck just below the riding helmet. "That scent. Apples? Regina's perfume?"

"Just one of many advantages to being married to another woman, Emma..." She grinned, turning her head to face her. "Shared, bigger wardrobe, more control of the bathroom, and double all the good stuff…" The horse started turning. "I can thoroughly recommend it."

After their initial awkward start, over the last seven years, she'd found Marian surprisingly easy to talk too, even confide in, on occasion. She was much more open-minded than Regina, and quite flirtatious with everyone, by nature. And no one in town had a bad word to say about her. "I'll take your word for it. By good stuff, I guess you're not just talking about perfume?"

"I'll leave that to your imagination! But yes, all I will say is, I'm blessed."

"I'm glad. Regina certainly is! You know, I was just thinking about when you first came to Storybrooke. That day I saw you, sat next to her in Granny's?"

"I remember it well. I hit you, unfortunately!"

"Hit? Punched me square in the jaw, more like! How could I forget?"

"And I know I've said it many times before, but I really am very sorry, Emma. I over-reacted. But…" Emma unexpectedly felt a soft peck on her cheek. "I never permanently damaged that beautiful face of yours, thank goodness. And now I've got to know you over the years, I rather think Killian's a very lucky man indeed!"

Her words made her blush. Marian was a natural flirt, with men and women. She'd seen her use it countless times, and even had the Dark One eating out of her hand on occasion. But she rarely use it on her! "That's nice of you to say but, I'm the lucky one. He's put up with a lot from me over the years! All my moods. My depression. That'd make many people run a mile."

"He adores you. I should know, he's now not just my business partner, but my best friend, after all! Just like Regina's yours. Funny how things turn out, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I remember when she first told me about you and her. Before Robin came back. I'd never have predicted that! Was she your-" she stopped herself, realising she'd gone too far, as usual, just like she had with Regina all those years ago.

"My first girlfriend? My first same-sex experience?" She could tell by the embarrassed look on Emma's face, she'd guessed right. But Marian didn't seem bothered in the slightest. She even gave her a knowing wink. "Yes, to both. I'd never even been attracted to another woman before, not until Gina. You know, when it first happened, with those feathers appearing and everything, I felt it could've been just because of our mutual connection to Robin. Regina was still grieving him. And in a way, so was I. But it very quickly became something else, and I fell for her, hard. How about you, Mrs. Jones? Any secret sapphic trysts of your own, in the past?"

"If I told you that, they wouldn't be secret now, would they?" she sniggered. "But for the record, no. The odd make-out here and there; but nothing else. Compared to most people around here, my love life's been fairly boring, until Killian. Can't say the same for him though!"

"Compared to him, whose is?" Marian laughed aloud, causing Emma to turn and glare, even though their faces were but an inch away. "Sorry. I didn't mean it like that! I guess I meant that, if you're getting on for three centuries old, you're going to have seen and done some pretty odd stuff, don't you think? I mean, having sex with a queen and a dragon is probably pretty tame, compared to for the kind of life he's seen!"

"You knew about that?" Emma's mind went instantly back to the girls' night out three weeks ago. To Dorothy's 'never-have-I-slept-with-a-pirate' tease. And Regina and Maleficent, not to mention Kathryn, all drinking shots in response. "He told you? About him and Regina?"

"God no! Killian's way too discrete. Gina told me. And only after I nagged her endlessly. I was never going to marry someone, without knowing everything about her now, was I?"

"I guess not. But still…"

Marian could tell by the look, she'd hit a sore spot. Me and my big mouth yet again! "Emma, you do realise you've married one of the hottest, loveliest guys on the planet, don't you? He's got history, like we all have. Only difference is, his is a lot longer. But the important thing is, he's with you now, and only you. And he's happy. He worships you and those girls. He's certainly told me so, often enough!"

That made her feel a little more reassured. "I never realised the two of you talk so much about…well, you know, everything."

"Best friends do. Just like you do with Gina. But...we only talk about our pasts, our feelings, that sort of stuff. He'd never tell me anything private, or intimate, about you two. I'd never ask. That's not a problem, is it?"

"No, of course not. I trust him. And I trust you."

"That's just as well..." she gave the blonde another peck on her cheek, pulling herself tighter in against her back. "After all, if Merlin's right about Honny and Lizzy, you and me are likely to be in-laws, one day!"

As the horse finally reached the river bank, Marian's youngest, Charlotte, looked up, grinning when she saw her mother's head resting on Emma's shoulder, smiling back at her, pointing at something silvery lying on the bank, close by . "Hi mamma! Look! We gotta twout! Killy caught it with just his hands!"

A good ten feet away from the girl, Killian Jones stood waist-deep in the water, dead still, his arms stretched down in front of him, and his hands just below the surface, not taking his eyes away from something he'd seen below, muttering to himself.

"Killian? What on earth are you doing in there?"

Though almost as soon as the words left Emma's mouth, the former pirate's arms suddenly spasmed, jerking upwards, followed by sudden and violent splashing, as he bellowed - "GOTCHA!" The next moment, he suddenly lifted his arms higher, flicking something out of the water. A moment later, a shiny, silvery-grew fish, over a foot long, and still thrashing, landed within feet of the girl, who squealed excitedly. A moment later, Charlotte picked up a large stone, banging it down on its head, stilling it.

"Wow – I'm seriously impressed, babe!" said Emma, chuckling, as she felt the girl's mother drop down from the horse, behind her. "Where did you learn to do that?"

"Liam taught me when I was a boy. It's called tickling. You basically rub its belly, and put it in a trance. Then you just have to act quick and hook it out the water. Young Charlie did the hard bit, stopping it flipping back in again, didn't you love?"

The four-year-old beamed back proudly, delighted at the catch. He looked up at the two women as he walked out of the stream. "So - I see someone's finally persuaded you to get back on a horse, Swan?"

"Marian just gave me a lesson, on this monster! It was…pretty exciting."

He looked across at his best friend. "Well you've achieved something I never did, milady; getting my Swan on a horse. Scared stiff of them, she was!"

"Don't exaggerate - I was never scared, pirate! Just…unsure...around them. As it turns out, she's a much better teacher than you, or Regina. She'd be forever yelling at me impatiently, and being sarky. While you'd just take off fast and scare the crap out of me by not waiting till I was ready!"

"Actually Killian, for her first lesson, Emma was pretty good! Especially when you consider Chester was shifting at a fair pace. I'd like to give her another one, on a different horse on her own, now she's a bit more confident. What do you reckon, Emma?"

"Yeah, I'm up for it, though my backside's a bit sore! Hang on, I'll just…" she twirled her fingers, using her magic to dismount from the horse. However, the moment she reappeared in front of them, now standing nest to Marian, the huge stallion immediately reared up onto his hind legs, whinnying loudly, his front legs flaying wildly in panic. "What the hell?"

"WOAH, CHESTER!" Marian bellowed, just as the horse dropped onto all fours, before racing off, desperate to get away.

"What the hell just happened?"

"It's your magic, Emma! It spooked him. Don't worry, he's heading back up towards the stables. Robin's up there, so he should be able to calm him down. Or he will be, by the time he gets there. Sorry, it's my fault. I should have said something about that. Regina told me she never uses magic directly in front of horses. It terrifies them, apparently."

"Sorry, I had no idea."

The incident didn't go unnoticed by Charlotte. "Mamma, can mummy and Emma teach me magic, like Neal?"

"Not yet, Charlie." Emma answered for her. "We all have to wait until your magic comes out by itself! I was a lot older than you, when it happened to me. But...we'll teach you as soon as we can, I promise. Now, how about we walk back up there and show off your fishes to your other mummy?"

She looked over at Killian, who was standing by the bank, currently in the process of taking off his soaked jeans, having already removed taken his wet T-shirt, and leaving him now standing only in his wet boxers in the afternoon sun. The sight of his muscled but not over-developed physique, now wet, never failed to make her feel good. But as she proudly checked him out, from the corner of her eye she saw Marian doing pretty much the same thing! How did the woman describe her husband minutes ago? One of the hottest guys on the planet?

Marian looked up, realising Emma had just caught her staring. But instead of looking guilty, she merely gave the Saviour a wink, before whispering: "You lucky girl!"

"Oy, you've got one of her own up there!" she whispered back. "And a wife!"

"Married or not, I can always admire a nice view, Emma. And let's face it, that's a seriously nice view!"

"Hey, what are you two whispering about?" said Killian, gathering his boots and clothes.

"Nothing!" both women said, almost simultaneously. Seeing him standing there, in just his boxers, oblivious to how he looked, Emma focused her magic. Within moments, hot air swirled around him, and seconds later, he looked down to find himself now clad in a tight black T-shirt, fresh dry jeans, socks and boots, courtesy of his wardrobe.

"Erm, thanks?" said the confused man.

"Spoilsport!" said Marian, chuckling.

Emma poked her tongue out at her.

After the four of them walked up the hill, finally reaching the riding school, Emma was relieved to find the stallion was already standing near to Robin, a lot calmer now, and eating hay. The former outlaw smiled back, gathering up his youngest in his arms, kissing her cheek. "Hiya Charlie. Did you have a nice time with Killian?"

"Yes. Look what I got, daddy?" she proudly showed off the two fishes Killian was holding, as though she'd caught them herself.

"Brilliant! Well done, poppet!" He winked at the former pirate, knowing full well who had probably caught them. "Well after that, you must be starving? Alan's got the barbeque heating up, and your other mum's with him preparing to make the lunch. If you take those fish over there, he'll prepare them, and we could have them too?"

As the group turned to head back, Emma caught onto Robin's arm. "Charlotte, could take your mamma and Killian over there? I need to have a quick word with your dad."

A minute later, they were out of hearing range of the others. Robin guessed what was coming. "Emma?"

"Yeah. First, sorry about spooking your horse, like that!" He seemed confused. "You know – magic? Chester? Scaring the crap out of him?"

"Oh, that? No problem, you weren't to know. Thankfully, you weren't sitting on Chester at the time. That's a hell of a long way to fall! It happened to Regina once. You enjoy your lesson?"

"Yeah, Marian's a brilliant teacher. Anyway…I wanted to ask you about dad. back at the diner, what did you see?"

Robin knew she was bound to ask, but he couldn't possibly tell her he'd seen her own father heatedly kissing Ruby's wife now, could he? "Emma, I…I can't really tell you anything."

"Can't? Or won't?" she huffed in frustration. "You stopped me walking in there! There's something going on. With my parents. And all I know, is that Ruby and Dorothy are involved somehow! "

"I did see something, but it's not something I want to tell you about, because frankly, I don't have the full picture. However, I did speak to David, and I told him what I saw, and also that you were about to walk in there. I suggested he speak to you directly."

"Look - is he splitting up with Snow? Is it because of them? Because she blatantly lied to my face when I asked her! And he was so angry the other day. Angry with her! And he never gets angry with her!" Then her mind went back to that time with Regina. The last time she rode on Chester, when she told her bout her parents' past. That's it! She slept with Ruby? That's what he was mad about! And…and…it was Snow who first put the pressure on him to be a sperm donor for them! So what happened? She got too close? She was caught cheating on him with Ruby Lucas? "Dammit Robin, they're my parents! Their marriage is on the line here!"

"Well you better talk to him yourself, then, hadn't you?" Robin's eyes were already focused somewhere else. "Now's your chance."

As she followed his gaze to where he was looking, in the distance, in the car park, she could see Henry getting out of his convertible. Along with a passenger.

A little earlier...

Henry, having been staying at Rumple's mansion the previous night, came down the stairs, surprised to to find his other grandfather talking to the Dark One.

"Hiya gramps, what are you doing here?"

"Hello Henry. Returning something I borrowed, back to Mr. Gold, along with a couple of things he asked me to pick up in Portland." Henry recognised a scroll now lying on the dinner table. One of only three, which allowed people to get back into Storybrooke, from over the border. Charming must have used it to get out and meet him? "And what have you been up to?"

"Getting flights and everything sorted, so Ella can fly in next weekend. Merlin's already sorted her a passport and stuff. And I've also been catching up on local news and what's been going on around here. It's better than any newspaper! I'm about to drive over to the riding school to meet mums and everyone there. They're all having lunch. You should come too!" He looked at Gold. "You too, grandpa?"

"Oh, I don't think so, Henry..." To Rumpelstiltskin, the tedium of spending any leisure time with his grandson's family, was tantamount to a slow death, even if Belle seemed to enjoy it. "I've got things to do. But you enjoy yourself. Do you still wish for you and your lady-friend to stay with us, while she's here? You're both welcome if you do." Unlike the rest of your family! "Or...you can use the flat above the library?"

"Whatever you prefer, grandpa. Either way, it's really appreciated, till we find something..." He looked back at David. "So, are you coming?"

David shivered inside as he thought about facing Emma, especially after what Robin told him earlier! What could he even tell her? She can detect a lie or a diversion in a heartbeat. But...he knew if he didn't, she'd just chase him down till she got something. But then, after how he'd left Snow this morning, even though they'd cleared the air, he was in no rush to get home. "Okay. I guess I can spend an hour or so."

The Riding School

"Hi guys - still having fun?" Henry stole a slice of bread from the table, David coming up alongside him.

Regina beamed back, pleased to have all her family together again. "Perfect timing Henry. We're just about to eat, once the chefs over there have cremated the meat!" She glanced over at Robin and Alan-a-Dale, who were in control of the barbeque. "What have you been up to, since you left us this morning?"

"Oh, this and that. Catching up with a few old mates. Then I popped back to grandpa Gold's shop, to put the storybooks back. It's where I found Gramps and suggested he come join us." He watched David walked over to the guys at the barbeque.

"Storybooks?" Killian's brow rose. "Like that old one you used to write in, when you were the Author? I always wondered what happened to them."

"Well, it may be seven years since I lived here permanently, Killian, but I am still the Author! Whenever I get near them, my old pen and inkwell appear from nowhere, and the stories start to catch up! It's how I get to find out what's been going on in town that I knew nothing about."

"You said storybooks? Plural?" The Saviour's interest was piqued. "Just how many are there, Hen?"

"Five. At least, that's what we've got right now. I kept four of them in one of them grandpa Gold's safes. But a new one appeared when I came back a couple of years ago. The latest one's more about the kids, though I'm in there too! There's only about ten pages written so far, plus some pictures. All of my sisters and Roland are mentioned, and Neal and Gideon. I had a catch up for an hour before I left to come here, and it started writing about Honnie and Lizzy saving Jagger when you were in the Caribbean! I can't believe they actually restored his blind eye! And Triton's daughter? That was seriously impressive!"

"You should have been there! So, do all the story books keep getting updated?"

"Yeah, but only when something significant happens. I just open them up separately, hold the pen over, and it just start writing. There's one book about you and Killian ma, and mum and Robin. Then there's another book just about Rumpelstiltskin. That's the biggest one! Then one about grandma and gramps. Let's face it, Snow White and Prince Charming were kind of the originals."

An idea came to Emma. "Could we see them? After all, there's not much point in them just sitting in Gold's safe now, is there? I know Hope would just love to read about her granny and grandpa's history wouldn't you, babe?" Her eldest girl gave her a keen nod, her mouth already full of bread.

"Sure, ma, I'll bring them over. Hope, did you have a good first riding lesson?"

"Yes, it was great, Henry! Gina thinks I can take Jessie out in the field next week!" she grinned at her godmother. "You should come too! You could bring your new girlfriend?"

"If I can, I will sis, I promise. So, what else have you all been up to?"

Regina looked over at the Saviour. "Well, your other mother also had her first riding lesson. With Marian. Though she seems to have been moaning about it every since!"

"Oh, do leave Emma be, Regina!" Marian smirked back. "She's just a little bit saddle-sore, that's all. It happens to all of us when we start, and Chessie really made her work for it today."

"Chester? You put ma on Chester?" Henry was impressed, looking down at his blonde mother. "No offence ma, but...that's like putting Hope behind the wheel of a Ferrari! No wonder she's got a sore bum!"

"Thanks for that, Henry!" Emma glared at her eldest, as her daughters started laughing at the funny word. "And that's quite enough about my backside, thank you very much! Anyway, did you manage to speak to your girlfriend?"

"Yeah. I've got her flying into Logan this Friday. I'll go and pick her up." He was inwardly dreading introducing Ella to his mothers. "Grandpa and Belle have offered to let us stay in their place, while we sort out an apartment."

Regina and Emma shared a concerned look. Although it had been a long time since they'd clashed with the Dark One, neither of them felt entirely comfortable with the man being so close to Henry. Even though he was Neal's father. "I see. Well as you seem to have everything in hand, we'll put on a dinner to welcome her on Saturday night. Emma, your family should all come too? We can-"

"No mum, she'll probably still be jet-lagged! Let's make it Sunday, or a bit later in the week, yeah? I need her fully rested, before she faces you lot! No offence..."

A few minutes later, the food started arriving, Regina was relieved to find Alan-a-Dale had taken control of the cooking, as he was a far more competent chef than Robin, who served up. As the plates started appearing, Emma decided now was the time to face her father, now standing awkwardly away from the group, near the barbeque.

"So...are you planning to stand here, ignoring me all day, then?" she asked, not looking at him as she put squirted tomato on her burger. "Like you did this morning?"

"No, I'm not ignoring you, Emma. But I guess I was avoiding you..."

"Well that's fairly obvious. Why dad? I thought we could tell each other anything? But since you ran off..."

That made Him squirm. "Because...it's a subject that I don't believe a father should talk to his own daughter about! I'm sorry if that upsets you. Maybe I'm just very old-fashioned like that. I'm sure there's things about your own marriage you wouldn't want to talk to me about?"

"Perhaps." She finally looked up, relieved to find he was also trying to avoid her gaze. "But I know it's something to do with Ruby Lucas. Is mum having an affair?"

That finally got him to look directly at her. "What on earth makes you say that?"

"That wasn't a denial! I already knew they had something going, before she met you! Mum even admitted it, when I first found out you were Nat's sperm donor. There were even rumours about you and Ruby..." she watched his face carefully, to see his reaction.

"Anything else?"

"Um...yeah." Emma wasn't sure whether she should tell him what else she knew. Though she thought it might help him admit something. "You remember a few weeks ago, when we came over to the farm for Nat's birthday party?" Her father nodded. "I took the boys off with me after. But...before I left, I forgot to leave the keys to your truck. I kinda used magic an hour later to poof into your kitchen, and return them. It was already dark and you'd both gone to bed. I heard noises coming from your bedroom." She waited for his memory to catch up. "You...you weren't alone."

As David realised what she must have heard, he blew out a large breath, his eyes bulging. "I see."

"It's none of my business, I know that. But it sounds to me, like you two have been 'swinging', and things have got out of hand? Maybe she took it too far? Again, it's none of my business, but..." she tried to find the right words. "If you're planning on splitting up, or you're thinking of leaving her, I think me and Neal have the right to know!"

"No you don't, Emma!" The change in him was instant, his voice rising, annoyed, taking his daughter completely by surprise. "Yes, liberties were taken, and that's one of the reasons I left town. Better that, than I lose my temper. Because you really wouldn't like to see me like that! But...we're trying to sort them out. You may be my daughter, but this is NONE of your business, are we clear? And you do not have the right to question me! Understood?" He almost growled the last word, leaving Emma feeling like an admonished child, knowing she'd pushed it too far. All she could do was, reluctantly, nod.

"You have to just trust us to sort things out between ourselves. Have you said anything to your brother?"

"No, of course not! I would never do that!"

"Good. Well, I'd better be getting back. I only came over here to speak to you, after what Robin said...well, it's not important what he said. I'm sorry you felt I snubbed you at the diner, Emma, but it wasn't deliberate. I just had a lot on my mind. So...are we good?"

"Erm...yeah. I guess. Sorry, I didn't mean to be nosey. it's just..." she wasn't sure how to follow, without annoying him again. But the moment he pulled her into his arms to hug her, she knew she was forgiven. "Sorry."

"Me too. And sorry for snapping at you. I'll see you at the station tomorrow?" And with that, he turned away, going over to the group to make a brief apology for not staying, before leaving.

A minute after he'd gone, Regina walked over to join her, two plates of food in hand, handing one to Emma.

"Here, I saved you a burger and salad. Don't worry, Alan cooked it, rather than Robin, so it should at least be edible! So, what's going on with Charming? You both seemed somewhat...tense?"

"Thanks." She took the plate, relieved for the distraction. "I guess I just got bollocked, for poking my nose in where it's not wanted. I've never seen him like that before!"

"Oh, I've seen him angry enough in the past. Usually because of something I did. So, what's going on?"

"I'm not entirely sure but..." They were joined by their son. "Henry, you know those storybooks? Can I come over and pick them up tonight?"