I don't feel like dancing

neongenesisevang asked for a oneshot of Emma not wanting to go to a fancy ball because nobody ever taught her how to dance. Charming discovers this and decides to be her teacher.

Charming couldn't help but notice the difference in his girls as the grand ball approached. Snow was practically floating on air, whereas Emma was hiding a grimace every time it was mentioned. As the ball drew nearer, she seemed to get more and more frightened. Nobody else seemed to notice that Emma was absolutely terrified. Nobody, except from Charming.

The family had found a way to harvest more magic beans. This meant small breaks back to the Enchanted Forest were now possible, as people were happy living in Storybrooke. One of the ways of celebrating a way to return to their home world, was throwing a proper, old-fashioned ball in it. The Charmings would be the hosts, having fixed up their old palace. Emma had been quiet through most of the discussions and decision making for the event. He gathered from Snow's talk that she had a dress made for her by the best seamstress in the realm under Snow's instructions and she looked simply radiant. Charming just couldn't help but feel like Emma had something on her mind. The only way he, or anyone else, was ever going to find out, was to ask her. So, a couple of days before the ball, Charming went into Emma's room in the palace (since there was so much preparation to be done, they had been staying there for the week).

"Hey honey." He greeted her. She was lying on her bed, reading one of the books she had brought with her. She looked over to him and smiled. "We're going to be having a run-through of how things are going to go down at the ball. I thought you might want to be there?" He offered her.

"Oh, thanks dad, but I don't know if that will be necessary." Emma explained.

"Oh?" Charming responded. He leaned against the door frame, waiting for Emma to explain.

"Yeah…I'm really just going to show face and then slip away." Emma explained. Charming's face fell.

"You're not staying for the ball?" He asked. Emma shook her head. "Why?" Emma seemed reluctant. "Please, talk to me." He asked. Emma sighed.

"Balls are all about dancing here. Like, properly dancing. I don't know the first thing about it." Emma said. Charming felt like kicking himself. How could he and Snow have let this go over their heads? Just because they knew all the dances and moves didn't mean that Emma did. She would be totally out of her depth.

"Well, we still have a couple of days." He reminded her, coming into the room. "I'd say that's plenty of time for a crash course." He said. Emma raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" She asked suspiciously. Charming extended a hand to her.

"I mean, may I have this dance, Princess?" He said with his trademark charming smile. Emma smiled back.

"Dad, this is kind, but do you really think it will work? We only have a couple of days, and I have two left feet." Charming helped Emma off the bed.

"I think you'll be a natural." He told her. "Just trust me." Emma sighed. She didn't think she was being given the choice here. "Just let me lead. You'll be just fine. I won't let you embarrass yourself." He promised her. As gently as possibly, Charming waltzed Emma around to music only he could hear. He smiled at her as she began to pick up the steps to one of the simpler routines. "See, I told you, a complete natural." He praised her. Emma smiled back, resting her head against his shoulder as they danced. Charming smiled down at her. It was just like he had once dreamed it.