Still afraid- part 2
CharmingsDaughter asked for a oneshot of a sequel to Ch3051 "Still afraid" but with Charming.
Just because things were now sorted with her mother didn't mean they were with her father. Snow didn't want to interfere. This was between Emma and Charming. She would leave it to them to sort out. It didn't take long for Charming to have a similar conversation with Emma that Snow did the previous night. He too was getting fed up of Emma keeping secrets from them. It was Charming who broke the silence first.
"Ever since I held you for the first time, I knew that all I'd want to do was protect you." Charming announced. Emma didn't respond. She didn't know how to. "It didn't matter against who or what, you were my little girl and I'd crawl backwards over broken glass if I had to in order to keep you safe. Any time that I haven't been able to fulfil that duty…it kills me, Emma. I feel like I'm failing you as a father. So when you don't tell me about situations where I could help protect you, I can't help but get frustrated." Charming told her honestly. She had to know how he felt. Emma brought her knees up to her chest, unable to meet his gaze.
"You're not failing me." She said quietly. "That upsets me that you could ever think that. Sure, when the curse first broke I was pissed. I was still confused as to how you could have given me up, but I get it now. Really, I do. Even when I was being an asshole and pushing you away, you always kept coming back. You wouldn't let me run, and I needed that. I just couldn't bear it if you or mom got hurt trying to protect me when it's my job to protect everyone." Emma answered. Charming came over so he was crouched in front of Emma.
"You might be the Saviour, and you might have some of the strongest magic out there, but it will always be my job to protect you, never the other way around." Charming told her. "You're my kid. Always will be." He told her with a gentle smile. He saw Emma smile in return. He reached up and lovingly kissed her forehead. "Promise me you won't do that again? When I have a chance to help keep you safe, let me take it. I missed so many growing up. I want to spend the rest of my life making you feel as safe as you should have done as a child."
"I promise." Emma assured him. She still wasn't used to other people putting her before themselves, especially not parents. Maybe she could stop holding back now though. Maybe, she was ready to accept that there were at least two people in this (or any) world that would do anything for her, no matter what.
