A/N: I love Snowing. Might be because Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas had such great chemistry that they actually got married in '14 and are still together today. I wish them many more happy years!

~Snowing~

"Why didn't you wake me sooner?" David was wearing a hole in the rug with his pacing. Bless her for her patience, as she sat at the edge of their bed just waiting, watching, and listening to his rant.

"I woke up hours after they left. Besides, what would you have done? What could you have done?"

David sighed in aggravation. "She's only eighteen!"

"Yes. She is long past childhood, and of marrying age. Yet, she still has no idea who she is, or what she's capable of."

"She's not ready!"

"Is anyone ever ready for anything they have to face?" He sighed at that. "Besides, she's been cooped up behind these walls for long enough. She could use a little worldly experience."

"Worldly- really? It's a trek through the woods toward some old, forgotten castle."

She gave him a look. "You're making my point." He stopped his pacing just long enough to give her a look of his own. "David, you know I was on my own much younger than she is now. And she's not alone, she went with Captain Jones."

"Which is worrisome in it's own right. I bet he got to her, convinced her to join him, and that's why he didn't want anyone else to go. He argued with everyone so he could go alone, but he let Emma go with him?"

Snow scoffed. "I'm sorry, did you say, 'let'?"

He stopped, hung his head in defeat, perching one hand on his hip, the other across his eyes. "Yeah. You might have a point. Still, I can't believe she is out there, with him, alone." David was exasperated. This was an argument he never thought he would have. He just wanted his daughter safe and sheltered within the walls of the castle.

"You can't protect her forever." Snow said softly. "She has to learn to stand on her own two feet."

He took a long, pensive look at his wife. His strong, beautiful wife, ever so patient with him. How she was handling all of this, he would never know.

"What do you think will happen?" He asked her.

"I think," She stood, took a few steps, and wrapped her arms around him enough that she could look up into his eyes. "That our daughter will be safe regardless of the outcome of her quest." He let out a grunt, and she kissed the end of his nose.

"She's my baby girl."

"Your baby girl is better with her bow than I am. Better with a sword than you are. Better at tracking and surviving than Red and Graham combined. And she is more clever than all of us. We have been preparing her for this her entire life."

"The timing, Snow. She's healing. Her memories aren't fully realized yet." As soon as he said it, he wished he could take it back. Her entire face fell.

"I know that, David. But we can't keep her here just because we think it's best for her. This quest could be the best thing for her. Think of it. This provides a distraction if she needs it, an outlet for anger, someone to talk to-"

"And if he takes advantage of her?"

"He only has the one hand." He couldn't help but smile at that. "She can take care of herself."

"But he's a pirate."

"You're a shepherd." She reminded him simply. "And I'm a bandit."

He was running out of arguments. "What if they fall in love?"

"You saw true love's kiss yourself. The process has long since started, don't you think? As for when it happens? We will be accepting of him. Or I will, and you'll pretend to be." Her eyebrows raised slightly.

He let out a long breath. "Fine. Fine!" He bent down for a kiss. "I should have left you in that net." He mumbled as their foreheads connected, earning a chuckle and a fist in his arm.

Thank you for reading!