I decided to add a second chapter, this is Daddy Charming and Emma bonding. I couldn't help it, I love the guy! OOC, read and review, let me know if you would like another chapter.
Warmth. Saltwater. Rum. Those three things were making it impossible for Emma to move out of the loving embrace she and Killian were sharing. His strong arms wrapped around her made her forget that they were in Neverland fighting a teenage boy who she was sure would benefit from a wooden spoon to the rear end. She knew that no matter what they faced Killian was going to protect her, he wouldn't let her fall, he wouldn't let Henry grow up the way they did. Somehow she knew that if for some reason she didn't make it off the island, he would be the parent Henry needed. Killian wouldn't let anyone or anything harm him that alone made her want to shout from the highest mountain that she loved this pirate. Love? Her heart picked up when he was around, her stomach did flip-flops when he gave her that smirk, the thought of them not being together made her chest ache. This must be love; she hadn't felt this way ever. Not even with Neal. No, Neal made her feel many emotions but happiness was a rarity. They had their good times, those fleeting moments where Emma was sure he was a good man. But for every good moment there were ten bad moments following. Thinking back on it, she often romanticized the past just to feel better about the awful decision she made, to trust a con, to trust a man who always seemed to be looking over his shoulder. That was in the past now, she wouldn't visit the past again, there was nothing waiting for her and she couldn't be happier about that.
Killian closed his eyes and savored the feel of his love in his arms. His love. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would be able to say that again, he didn't want this moment to end. Of course the moment would end and they would have to face her parents and Neal. But for once he wasn't dreading dealing with something like that, he was honestly looking forward to it. It sounded strange but he knew that for once he wouldn't face the firing squad alone. They would deal with whatever her family had to throw at them; he had faith that the two of them would survive anything. If he was being completely honest with himself, he was looking forward to what Neal had to say. He didn't care if he insulted Emma's hair color or the way she chews her food, as long as he had an excuse to pummel the little shit into the ground. Really he didn't need an excuse but he had an irrational fear that Henry would find out and he would be angry at Killian for harming his father. Killian desperately wanted Henrys approval, if Henry didn't approve of Killian dating Emma; they were bound for a breakup. Killian would never make her choose between the two of them. He mentally snorted, he was a pirate, kids loved pirates. Didn't they? He was getting a little ahead of himself, he still had to face a very protective father and mother. Neal! All he had to do was remind Charming that Neal was the one who put Emma in jail; he would see that Killian was the better choice.
Emma lifted her head and smiled at loving look Killian gave her, how did she get this lucky? Killian dipped his head and kissed her passionately.
"What in the hell is the matter with you? Did you just get out of prison Pirate?" shouted Charming
Emma and Killian broke apart like two teenage kids caught kissing in the back row of a dark movie theatre. Emma looked around hoping that Pan was going to pop out and give them a hard time or something, anything to get them out of this difficult conversation that was bound to happen. Damn that teenager Hell! The one time she wanted the little monster to show himself, he was a no show. Typical.
Killian held Emma's hand tightly silently telling her that she wasn't alone. She didn't have to face things like this on her own anymore. Sure this was her dad, but he knew that Emma was still wrapping her head around the fact that she did in fact have parents that loved her more than their own lives. Judging by the look Charming was throwing at Killian, he was going to die. Very soon at that. Well they had a good run, hopefully Emma would remember Killian fondly and make it off the island safely.
Charming rolled his eyes at the panicked look his daughter and Hook shared, "Can you give us a moment Pirate? I need to speak to my daughter and I wouldn't mind doing that alone."
"It's fine Killian," Emma smiled "this talk needs to happen and I know it will go easier if it's just between the two of us. Father daughter bonding and all that." Killian smiled and kissed her on the head before Charming could give him a death threat he walked back to the campsite.
Charming looked at his daughter, his little girl, the tiny empress to his everything. He would never regret putting her in the wardrobe, he saved her life and that is something he would do over and over again if need be. Looking at her now he can't help but see the similarities that she and Snow share. They're both stubborn beyond belief; both held his heart in their hands without even knowing it. Sure Snow knew that he loved her beyond reason, she knew that given the choice he would never leave her, he would do anything to make sure that she never felt pain or heartache. His daughter on the other hand had no idea how precious she was to him, that his world stopped when she dove off the ship, that the thought of Cora taking her heart made him sick to his stomach. Emma had faced more heartache in twenty-nine years than most adults did in their entire lives. The urge to pull her into an embrace and never let her go was overwhelming, but of course he couldn't do that, that would only cause her to clam up and run back to the camp without them saying anything.
Emma couldn't take the silence anymore, "Are we going to talk or are we just going to stand here like two idiots contemplating their existence in the world?" She internally winced at the bratty sound her voice took on. But if her parents wanted to see what it would have been like to raise her, she would give it to them.
"I know you're upset and you have every right to be, but dammit Emma I'm your dad and you will show me respect. Yes I know, you're an adult and you have become a fine young women and I am beyond proud of you, but guess what? I'm still your dad. Just like Henry is your son, no matter how old he gets, he will forever be your baby boy. You gave Henry up to give him the best life possible. Why? Because you love him more than anything in this world and yeah you could have kept him and given him a good life but you didn't. You gave him up because someone like him doesn't deserve good he deserves great. Just like you Emma. You my stubborn hardheaded daughter deserve nothing but the best."
Emma laughed bitterly, "Really? I deserve nothing but the best? Then why did I live in foster care until I was eighteen? Why was I pushed aside in every home I ever went to? How is it that since I deserve such good things in life, do I always get screwed over?"
"Do you think for one minute that I ever would have sent you into that wardrobe if there was another way of protecting you?" asked Charming angrily. "Emma you are the most important person in mine and your mothers lives. Nothing will ever change that! That night was the best and worst night of my life. You being born was the most magical moment of my life. Holding you in my arms brought me the most overwhelming amount of love I have ever felt. I swore I would protect you at all costs and to do that I had to let you go baby girl. Never think for a single minute that you are not worthy of something because you are. You have been dealt one of the hardest hands a person can have and you pushed through it all. We're family though Emma, it maybe twenty plus years ahead of where we want it, but we're a family and families stick together. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for every bad thing that has ever happened to you, I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you or to threaten guys that you dated, more importantly I'm sorry that I wasn't there to make sure that you grew up knowing how important and deserving of greatness you are."
"Then why don't you and Snow want me? Why am I not good enough for the two of you? Explain that to me!" yelled Emma, she couldn't get over what Snow said, that hurt more than being shuffled from home to home when she was a kid.
Charming felt his heart clench at the hurt in Emma's eyes, "First of all we will never not want you Emma. You are our pride and joy, if I had friends outside of a pirate with a drinking problem and an angry pawnbroker who asks for dating advice, I would brag about you all the time. Never think for one minute that you aren't good enough for our love or our time. Even if we do have another child, you will always be my baby Emma. If you think we're just going to kick you aside, you should think about calling Jefferson and getting some advice on what to do after you've lost your mind. You can't get rid of us that easily, now that we've found you, you're stuck with us. I'm telling you're right now; we won't have more children if that's going to affect you in a negative way. We should be focusing on our small family now rather than making it bigger. Please don't think you are replaceable in our lives Emma, you mean more to us than I can ever express."
"I need you," mumbled Emma through tears, Charming pulled his daughter into his arms, "I need you daddy, you and mom. I need you guys more now than ever. Please don't leave me again, I can't take more people leaving me." Emma allowed her daddy to hold her while she broke down, years of pent up sadness were coming out finally. She didn't care if she seemed childish, she wouldn't give up this feeling of comfort for the world.
AN: I do accept prompts for "Once Upon A Time" one-shots stories.