AN: okay, so this wasn't meant to be anything other than a oneshot, but people were following it and commenting and I just had to add this on. Oops.

Also, for the next couple of hours I'm on tumblr taking prompts so feel free to come over and revel in the omg I can't believe next episode is the winter finale feels with me.

(thanks to 4UISUNI2 for giving me the idea –– Oh could we get a confused Hook and laughing Charming fic please? XD - and to everyone else who agreed that Daddy Charming feels are the best)

"Mate, we need to talk."

A sigh and a scowl (which held a little bit of fondness, not that he'd ever let him know) and Charming cocked his head to the side to show Hook he was listening. They were at the edge of the clearing, this being the first watch of the night and the task of ensuring his family's safety falling to Charming. Hook just couldn't sleep.

"It's about your daughter…" He started and David kept in the hysterical giggle that threatened to pop.

"Yeah, well that's obvious." He replied.

It was always about Emma.

Hook sighed a little, but Charming decided that the sound was more of an exasperated resignation that any real annoyance on his part, and besides that didn't even matter since the pirate wanted his help anyway and why did David care if Jones found bringing this up difficult?

–– still, it couldn't hurt the ease his discomfort (he was a prince after all, it was just something they did); "I'm sorry Hook, what about Emma?"

"Look, I know this whole bloody situation makes you want to punch me, again I might add, but it doesn't hurt to hear me out ––"

Charming was sitting on a fallen log, since there seemed to be an abundance of those in Neverland, and thus found it difficult to execute the well-worn pat-on-the-shoulder-to-show-both-comraderie-and-also-to-get-you-to-stop-your-useless-tirade manoeuvre that as both a farm boy and a prince he liked to fall back on. Instead he just shot Hook his best fatherly glare and once more swallowed back a chuckle –– this whole situation was just a little ridiculous, he hadn't been a parent for twenty-eight years and it was too early to be talking to boys with intentions (even if it was one his beloved daughter liked). "Jones, spit it out."

Charming thoroughly enjoyed how quickly he gave in. "Look, Swan told me that…well she was angry so it was more like she instructed, but regardless –– she seemed a bit put off about the fact that I gave you the water from the island, and I just had to ask…did I do something wrong?"

"…" Charming stared at the pirate, no the suitor in front of him and for several reason ––

…Firstly, that Hook looked so damned uncomfortable, and yet he was still willing to come to him of all people, to try and figure out what went astray, why Emma was so upset with him because David had happened to insinuate something (that was obviously true). Secondly that Emma had said anything to Hook at all because clearly (and here Charming had to let out a silent hah! because he was so one up on Snow) she had felt the need to, spoke volumes and in that case…

–– he could not keep in the laughter this time.

As Charming quietly lost his marbles (hey, there were still people sleeping nearby) the look on Jones' face became darker and darker until he looked about ready to storm off because the whole thing had been a bloody terrible idea (Charming mockingly said this in his head at well because if he had made the utterance out loud than the pirate would never talk to him again).

It took him a long moment to compose himself, but when he did he managed to shoot the Captain an openly pleased smile. "Oh Hook, I'm afraid you might be growing on me."

"Pardon?"

David stood, placing a strong, steady, fatherly hand on Jones' shoulder. "Let me tell you something about the women in my family." He said, pride imbued in his voice. "They are independent and fierce and absolutely will not back down from a challenge. Sometimes that means getting angry instead of flustered."

Hook raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying Emma was angry with me because she was…embarrassed?"

Charming laughed again, the sound a loud, resounding snicker that he had to swallow quickly because sleeping people and because Hook was not one to continue being the butt of a joke. He patted Hook's shoulder again, feeling overwhelming pleased with himself. "I am saying that you should probably ask her exactly what you just asked me."

Another eyebrow joined the one already arching across his forehead, but David wasn't fooled by his incredulousness. Hook looked happy.

(maybe he was finally learning to pick up on these subtle cues, because Emma was always so slight in how she showed her feelings, just like Hook always masked his with innuendos, and maybe that made a little bit of sense now)

"Oh. Alright then."

"Yeah."

"I'll do that."

Charming smiled again, sitting back down on his log. "Mhmm."

He shuffled nervously, a hand coming up (his only hand) to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Ah…thanks mate."

When Charming only nodded, Jones turned around and walked back over to where he was resting for the evening. Something about how the whole exchange played out made David feel at odds with the glowing I am an awesome, intuitive father vibe he'd been having since his talk with Emma.

"Oh and Hook?" He called out, softly, but enough that the pirate's face raised to meet his. "I'm not your mate."

But he was smiling and then Hook was smiling and the vibe came back. "Aye," he said "understood."