Anniversary

I don't own Once Upon a Time.

This chapter is based on Baratta Jennifer's prompt, about Emma and Neal doing something for their parents' anniversary. I hope you don't mind I've included the rest of the family as well.

"Why?" eleven-year-old Emma asked Happy, when he suggested their family plan a special celebration for her parents' anniversary. "It's already a national holiday. We have a ball every year and the kingdom has market day."

Happy's smile, which always seemed permanently painted on his face, somehow grew bigger. "Of course, but I thought your parents would like a special celebration from just us. They would almost explode with joy, Emma, especially if you and your brothers helped."

Emma thought about that for a moment. Even though her birthday was a national holiday, she always particularly appreciated the effort her parents made to celebrate her birthday as family. She pictured her parents' reaction to a special dinner, maybe, with flowers and presents on the table. "All right. What do we need to do?"

Following the dwarves through the castle, Emma tried to keep up with them, while simultaneously making sure neither of her parents were nearby. Was that Mom's dark hair in the corner? No, thankfully it was only one of the servants.

"We will have to hold it the day after the holiday, of course. When our family can sit down to dinner together," said Grumpy, explaining the plans.

Emma nodded. "Can you take us to the markets the day before to buy a gift for Mom and Dad, too?"

Doc put his arm around her. "Of course."

"We should speak to the" – achoo! – "cooks about what to serve for dinner, too," Sneezy added.

Emma nodded. "Dad is particularly fond of lamb."

All of the dwarves' grins spread further than ever. And with that, they marched off to the mines, even merrier than usual. Their "he, ho" song sounded especially jolly.

OOOOOOOOO

Smiling, Emma decided to tell her brothers about the anniversary plans right away. The dwarves had gotten her rather excited about it. She quickly made her way to the tutoring room, where she knew Neal and James were finishing their lessons.

Unfortunately, her brothers were not as interested.

"Why would I want to celebrate Mom and Dad's kissing day more than we already do?" Neal asked, making a face.

"Isn't everyday Mom and Dad's kissing day?" James asked.

Emma and Neal both laughed. "Yes, but they kiss even more on their anniversary. Do you remember last year?" Neal challenged his younger brother.

James thought for several moments. His five-year-old brain didn't always go back that far. "I'm not sure. I just know they kiss all the time every day."

Emma hugged her youngest brother. "That they do, James. But I really think it would be a good idea to give them a celebration from just our family. They'd would really like it. Like how Mom and Dad always give us private birthday celebrations, in addition to the ones for the whole kingdom."

"I remember my last birthday," James said. "Mom and Dad gave me my own horse, and I was allowed to practice riding it all day."

Emma nodded and hugged him again. "See?"

"All right," Neal finally agreed.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Neal was right. It seemed every time they saw their parents today, they were kissing again. And again. Emma couldn't stop herself from groaning, while Neal and James sometimes made gagging noises.

She had second thoughts about this "family celebration" idea, but then she remembered how much she still loved her parents and wanted to make them happy. So she, Neal and James held tightly to Granny and Aunt Red's hand as they headed to the markets. Tables full of every different kind of goods imaginable decorated the front of the castle today. Emma could see swords, silks, wool, leather, and wood. Nearby, some older women chatted about potions that were for sale on the other side of the market. In the distance, she also heard a lute being played. Perhaps instruments were sold somewhere as well.

Meanwhile, the dwarves distracted Mom and Dad, asking all kinds of questions about the ball they were throwing this evening.

"What would you like to get for your parents?" Aunt Red asked, her brown eyes meeting each one of them.

"A new sword for Daddy!" said James.

"I'm getting him the sword!" Neal protested.

"Dad has plenty of great swords," Emma said, wondering why her brothers thought they were so smart. "He needs a new leather coat."

"Don't make this into a competition," Granny said firmly, staring at them in a way that made all three of them quiver.

"Why don't you all get something bigger that your parents can use together?" Aunt Red suggested.

The three siblings stared at each other for several moments before they all replied, "All right."

"Like what?" Emma asked as they approached the markets.

"How about a new bed?" James asked innocently. "They use that a lot."

Aunt Red burst out laughing, and Granny looked embarrassed. "Yes, they do, but… I don't think they have any for sale at the markets today," Aunt Red said slowly. Emma had a feeling there was a different reason why that idea was argued against. It probably had something to do with why Granny looked so embarrassed. Maybe it was those "other things" that Mom and Dad did besides sleep on their bed?

"What about a new silk gown for Mom and a new shirt for Dad?" Emma asked, running ahead to the merchant selling different colors of silk. "I think Mom would love this one." She pulled out a light purple piece, feeling the smooth fabric at the same time.

"Boring!" Neal protested, making a face.

"Emma, please don't run ahead like that." Aunt Red's voice scolded from directly behind her. "The markets are a busy place."

"Sorry," Emma replied, wondering how the other woman had snuck up behind her like that.

"Look at those!" James shouted, pointed at the table across from where they were standing. "Paintings!"

Everyone immediately walked to the table James had been pointing at. Mom and Dad had some wonderful paintings in the palace. Their favorite was the one that hung in the front hall and showed their entire family, including Granny, Aunt Red and the dwarves. But surely, they would enjoy another one?

"This one is nice," Granny nodded, pulling out a beautiful picture of their palace, sitting right on the edge of the ocean. The sun in the painting seemed to light up their place like a beacon, and the waves that surrounded almost appeared to be moving.

Emma nodded as she stared at it. "I like that one."

James grumbled and shook his head. Emma wondered if he'd been spending too much time around Grumpy. "We already live there. Why would Mom and Dad want a painting of what they see every day?"

Aunt Red nodded. "I agree. Let us see what else is here."

Absentmindedly, Emma scanned the rows and rows of paintings, trying to find the perfect one for Mom and Dad. There were lots of different views of the palace and surrounding area, but James and Aunt Red were right. Mom and Dad saw that everyday already.

And suddenly Emma saw it. The perfect one.

It was a painting of the entire kingdom. You could see the clear blue sea and the green forest. Mountains in the distance overlooked everything with their snowy peaks. In between there were villagers and farms. In one corner was their palace, looking like a watchful guide, over everything. It was exactly what Mom and Dad wanted their kingdom to be.

She picked it up to show the others. "Let's get this!"

Aunt Red nodded. "Oh, Emma," she said, staring at the painting as well.

"Wow," said James, reaching for it.

"It's all right," said Neal. Emma had a feeling he didn't want to admit she'd chosen the perfect present for Mom and Dad. She smirked at him while Granny and Aunt Red weren't looking.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Emma could hear the music for the ball playing downstairs that night. Ordinarily it would bother her, but tonight all she could think of was what Mom and Dad would say when they saw their new painting tomorrow.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"Happy anniversary!" Everyone at the dinner table shouted as Mom and Dad came into the dining room. The table was decorated with Mom's favorite flowers, snowdrops. In the kitchen, Emma could smell the roast lamb that she was sure the servants would bring out soon. She, James, and Neal hid the painting under the table.

"Oh my!" said Mom with a delighted look on her face that made Emma feel funny and happy at the same time.

Dad, on the other hand, looked confused. "But our anniversary was yesterday."

"Yes, but we decided to have a celebration with just us," said Happy, somehow grinning more than usual.

"Oh, well…th – thank you," Dad stammered.

Then Mom leaned over and gave him another kiss and he gave her one in return. They both smiled in that goofy way as they finally pulled back. Neal was right. This was Mom and Dad's Kissing Day. Perhaps this wasn't such a great plan, after all…

But James dragged out the painting. "This from us, Mom and Dad. Me, Emma, and Neal."

"Oh, it's beautiful. Thank you," Mom said as she stared at the picture in awe.

"Thank you," Dad agreed, gathering Emma and her brothers in a huge hug. Mom quickly wrapped her arms around them all, too. Grinning, Emma felt warm and fuzzy all over. If this was the reward for giving her parents an anniversary present and a private celebration, maybe their kissing all the time didn't matter so much.

Thanks for the reviews from the last chapter. Please consider giving me a review for this one as well. And please ignore the spam that are unfortunately clogging up the reviews for this story.

Here's your responses from the last chapter.

Baratta Jennifer: Thank you for the review and for the prompt.

Bloomandgrow: Thanks for your support on this story. :) Yes, it would be intimidating at times to have a mother like Snow, especially considering she's so pushy. But Emma found a way for her mother to listen, eventually. And at the end of the day, Snow wanted to do something with her daughter, not for her to be the perfect archer.

Austenphile: Yes, it's nice they found something to do together.