Blackmail- part 2

SecretLoveCara asked for a oneshot of a sequel to Ch2963 "Blackmail" where George takes them to get the hat. After he releases them, Charming comforts Emma. DaddyCharming fluff.

With Emma's life in jeopardy, Charming had little option but to lead George directly to where he knew Jefferson had hidden one of his only magical hats left. Charming didn't like this one bit. He knew what damage playing with the past could do. He didn't have much choice though. Plus, even if George had the hat, it didn't mean he would get James back. There were still many obstacles for him to overcome. Not least of which was getting it to work without the help of Jefferson. Charming couldn't even tell his evil stepfather where Jefferson and Grace were hiding even if he wanted to, he simply didn't know. Jefferson wasn't stupid. He knew a villain would come after him again eventually. This time, he wasn't taking any chances. He would live out the rest of his days with his family, his mad hatter days behind him.

"Here." Charming growled, stopping abruptly at a stump in the forest. George walked over, the gun still pressed to Emma's head. He looked down at the stump, unimpressed.

"Do we need to dig?" He asked. "Because if not telling us that to try and stall us whilst we have to go back and fetch equipment is some kind of plot it's Emma here who'll pay the price…"

"You don't have to dig." Charming snapped, not liking George threatening his daughter again one bit. He bent down, his own hands bound together as well. He felt underneath the rim of the stump until he felt a little ridge. He dug his fingers in and pulled up, flipping the top of the stump off like a lid. He stood up and gestured down to George.

"It's buried inside the leaves." He told him. "Take the hat, leave, and let Emma and I go." Charming ordered. George gestured for one of his men to retrieve the hat. He quickly found it and handed over to George, who grinned like a Cheshire Cat. He chuckled, pulling out a small vile from his pocket.

"A deal's a deal, Charming. However, I'm not stupid. I know if I release you here you'll fight me to retrieve this. So," George popped the lid of the vile. "consider this me giving myself a head start." He threw the contents over Charming and Emma, who find themselves instantly rooted to the spot. Squid ink. George then dropped Emma's gun at her feet after cutting their binds. "I prefer doing things the old-fashioned way." He said simply, before he and his men left, Jefferson's hat firmly in their clutches.

About an hour or so later, Charming and Emma began to unfreeze. Emma was livid with herself. How could she have allowed herself to get captured by George? This was all her fault. She picked up a nearby rock and hurled it against a tree.

"Hey," Charming said gently, coming over to the frantically pacing Emma. "Emma, this isn't-"

"Don't." Emma interrupted him. "Don't tell me this isn't my fault when it is. I was the one stupid enough to get kidnapped by George which allowed him to get to you. Now he's got the hat and can go back in time and change everything if he wants to." Emma pointed out. She was surprised by her dad's calm demeanour. Why wasn't he freaking out like she was.

"Ok, yes, George having the hat isn't ideal. It's not the end of the world either, though. The hat's no good unless you know how to work it. George is so pig-headed he hasn't come to that conclusion yet. The only person who knows how to work that hat is Jefferson, and there's no way George will ever find him." Charming reasoned with her. Emma still didn't like it. It was still too risky. "We'll have that hat back before George even realises he needs Jefferson." Charming promised. He tilted Emma's head down to look at the bump where George had hit her. "And when we do, I'll pay him back for this." He growled. Emma sighed.

"It's not that bad." Emma told him. Charming was unconvinced.

"Emma, you have a lump on your head. It's that bad." Charming brushed it gently with his fingertips. He then took Emma into his arms and squeezed her tightly. "When I saw that he had you I was so scared." He admitted. "Especially with a gun to your head. I didn't give a damn about the hat then, and I still don't, not compared to the idea of losing you." Charming told her. "It was me that got caught by George in the first place. Me that was too stubborn to tell him, which led to you getting captured. I blame me far more than I blame you, and I blame George even more. It's him who's poisonous. I swear Emma, if he had hurt you anymore I would have…"

"It's ok." Emma said, seeing him begin to spiral. "He didn't. I'm ok." Charming sighed and kissed Emma's forehead. He turned and wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulders. This incident had shown him just how dangerous Storybrooke could still be if you had enemies, which the Charmings certainly did. He wouldn't give any of them another shot at his baby girl.

"Even so, we'll be taking a little trip to Storybrooke General before going home, I think. I want that lump checked out properly. What about your wrists? Are they ok?" Charming examined where Emma's hands had been tied together. He frowned. They were cut, but it didn't look too deep. Emma laughed.

"I've been in worse scrapes." Emma told him. "Besides, your wrists were tied too. If yours are ok, so are mine." Emma reasoned.

"Never mind my wrists." Charming told her. "Don't you go distracting Whale by telling him to check me over. I'm fine. If you don't put up a fuss I'll throw in a grilled cheese from Granny's on the way home." Charming bargained. Emma laughed.

"Deal."