A/N: I am so sorry this took so long to post. I had a really hard time writing it. This is only part one. I hope to have part two up within the week. Thank you so much for reading!

Also thank you to OnceUponSomeChaos and Lady-of-Misthaven for helping me beta this. It would not be nearly what it is without you two!

Emma woke up on Sunday, surprised to see several text message alerts on her phone. Killian must have been texting her since he had woken up for work that morning. Smiling, Emma swiped her finger across the screen and began to read.

My Swan, I spent all day yesterday thinking about what you said. I do not wish to spend the remainder of the day arguing with you.

Seeing as they are your parents, I am going to defer to your judgment on the best way to tell them.

Let me know what you decide.

I love you.

At least that issue was taken care of. Now, she just needed to talk to her parents.

Before she left her room, Emma made sure to grab her phone and place it in the back pocket of her pants. She didn't want to miss a text from him.

Emma smelled the sweet buttery scent of her mother's blueberry pancakes wafting from the kitchen, her belly growling response. Sunday mornings were the best because her mother's blueberry pancakes were her favorite meal.

Her parents sat next to each other at their kitchen table, Leo was across from them. The remaining chair was meant for Emma.

"Morning everyone." she said as she sat in her chair and ruffled Leo's blonde hair.

He looked up at her and gave her a smile. His chubby cheeks were covered in syrup and his tiny fingers held the "big kid" fork that he insisted he use. Pieces of pancake had landed on his monster truck pajamas, causing him to have to pull the pieced off and spread more syrup everywhere. Emma smiled at him in return.

Looking at Leo's face, Emma was brought back to when her parents first told her they were expecting another child. Like any normal 12 year old, she wasn't too keen on the whole idea. Who in their right mind actually wanted a baby sibling?

She quickly changed her mind when he was brought home. She remembered looking at Leo's small body with tufts of blonde hair atop of his head and falling instantly in love. She would protect him with her life if she needed to.

"Morning, Emma." her mom called to her while handing her a plate.

"What are your plans for the day, Emma?" her dad met her eyes while he enjoying his breakfast.

"Just some homework. I have a big test this week and I need to study for that."

"There's only a couple months of school left." her mom smiled and poured herself tea.

"I know. I'm really excited. I can't wait to graduate." she reached for more syrup, her pancakes were dry.

"YEAH! It is almost summer! Are we going to go to the pool a lot this summer, Em?" he stuffed more pancakes in his mouth.

"We'll have to see, kid."

With her future so up in the air, it made her afraid to make any sort of plans. She didn't even know how she was going to spend the summer and she would feel horrible if she had to break a promise to her brother.

After breakfast, Emma joined her parents in the living room, while Leo went to his room to watch some Sunday morning cartoons.

Emma knew that this was the moment she had been waiting for.

She wanted to throw up. Her palms dampened with sweat, her heart raced.

It was now or never.

"Mom. Dad. I need to talk to you about something." her voice come out small and trembling, not at all like the proud, confident girl she wanted to appear to be.

Her mother turned toward her. Her face was cocked slightly to the side, a look of puzzlement settled across her features.

It was not a look Emma was just to seeing on her mother's petite features. Her father shared the same look as her mother. He had leaned forward, giving Emma his full attention.

"What is it Emma?" her mom pulled her hands into hers.

Emma took a deep breath. How the hell was she supposed to start this conversation?

"Sweetie, is something the matter? You know you can tell us anything." he was almost leaning completely out of his chair.

She frowned and shook her head, looking at the couch cushions. Picking at the cushions with her fingers, small tears began to fall from the corners of her eyes. She couldn't even look at them in the face, she was too ashamed.

"I- um- I haven't been honest with you."

"What are you talking about?" he dad's voice was soft almost as if he was talking to a small child.

"I've been lying to you for the past year." She looked down unable to meet their gazes.

"What do you mean, Emma?" her mom questioned bewilderedly, "I am not sure that I understand."

"I have been seeing someone behind your backs for the past year. Most of the time I said I was with Ruby, Belle, or Elsa; I was actually with him."

Peaking up from her spot of the couch, Emma finally met her mom's gaze expecting to see white hot anger. There was anger there, yes, but also confusion and compassion.

Her mom said nothing in response.

"Are you mad?"

She didn't know why she asked. Of course they were mad.

"Mad? I'm not mad Emma. You know your father and I ran off at 18 and eloped. I am just disappointed. I thought I made it perfectly clear to you that you could trust us with anything. I am upset that you felt the need to lie to us about something as insignificant as a boyfriend..."

"A boyfriend?!" her dad interrupted as he jumped up from his chair and paced the floor. "Emma you're not even 18. I thought we had decided you wouldn't date until you were 30!"

Her mom flinched at his outburst. She looked to her husband and shook her head.

"Really, David. The fact that she has a boyfriend is kind of low on the list of issues." her mom said, exasperated.

"Dad, I was six when I agreed to that." she couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips.

It was a promised she had made when she still thought boys had cooties. He couldn't have really thought she was serious.

"But you still agreed! That counts, right Mary Margaret?" he looked so hopeful, like her mom's answer would solve all his problems.

Apparently, she was wrong.

"Again, now's not the time, David" her mom waved her hand in response.

He sat back down in his chair, defeated. His hands found their way to his head and he focused on the ground.

"Emma," her mother began again," please explain to me why you felt the need to lie to us for a year about a boyfriend of all things."

"I didn't think you would approve of him. It seemed easier to lie than to explain" Emma shrugged her shoulders. It had been easier. Until it came time to finally tell them.

"And that in itself, did not cause you to think about your actions? Why would you want to be with someone you know we wouldn't approve of?" Her mom gave her a pointed look.

"I can't believe you have a boyfriend." Emma heard her dad whisper when her mom finished.

Her mom threw her hands up and turned to her husband in disbelief. Before she was able to chastise him, Emma interrupted, "Dad, I am not a little girl anymore. You can't expect me to be one forever."

Turning to her mother, Emma continued, "Mom, I know this seems bad. I do care what you think. It's just everyone in this town has this opinion about him. I had it at a certain point. Once I took the time to get to know him, I found he was so much more than what everyone thought."

Returning her gaze to her mom's face, Emms saw a hint of understanding prompting her to continue.

"The more time we spent together made me realize that he was just a product of his crappy life. He's been living on his own since his brother died, working two sometimes three jobs to support himself. Everyone in town just saw what was on the outside, what they wanted to see. I saw him for who he was and I loved him for it. He is the strongest person I know."

Looking at her mom, Emma saw tears in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry mom. I was just trying to listen to you. You always told me to look for the best in people, mom. So, I did. Please do the same for him, when he comes over for dinner tonight."

Her mom's hand was over her heart, there was a tender bittersweet smile on her face.

"Emma, of course I will. I may be disappointed in your actions, but I would never purposely cause you pain. I honestly can't wait to meet him."

Emma's heart swelled at her mom's words. Everything was going to be alright. She may have disappointed them with her lies, but she would make it up to them.

Throwing herself into her mother's arm, Emma let out a sigh of relief. Her mother's hand began stroking her hair in comfort, as she placed her head on her mother's shoulder.

"You – you love him?" her dad asked in a light voice, just a bit above a whisper.

From her place in her mom's arms, Emma could feel her mother shake her head once again.

Her dad was still sitting in his hair. He looked defeated. She had grown up and he did not like the idea of it. He didn't realize that no matter what happened, she would always be his baby girl. He just needed reassurance of that.

"Yes, daddy, I love him. I'm sure if you give him a chance you will understand why, but no matter what… I will always be your little princess."

He seemed to smile at that. When he looked up at her he also had tears in his eyes.

"As long as you're happy, princess, I am happy for you."

"I am dad. I am beyond happy and he makes me that way."

"Good. I'd say that if he hurts you then he will have to deal with me, but we both know that you can take care of yourself."

"Thank you, daddy. I love you."

"And I love you, princess."

Detangling herself from her mom, Emma stood up from the couch. Killian would be wanting to know how everything went and she still had some studying to do before dinner.

"Emma, before you go, you never did tell us this boys name."

"Oh sorry. It's Killian Jones."

There was a loud crash in the room. When Emma looked over to where that sound had come from, she couldn't believe her eyes.

Her dad had fallen off of his chair.