Authors Note: Hey everyone, sorry that I took so long to update. First off I just wanted to thank you for all the follows, favourite and reviews. I hope to update more frequently once I get back from vacation. If you guys have any idea's on chapter's that you want me to write let me know because I'm suffering a case of writers block. Hope you enjoy the chapter :)


Chapter 11

Emma sat at the table in the War Council room. Her books open in front of her, her brow furrowed in confusion. It wasn't until she heard her parents walking down the corridor that she pulled her book closer and turned it to the last page, as if she had been reading and studying with no problems the entire morning. She was told to finish today's studies before she could do the "fun" lessons ,with her parents, in the afternoon.

"Well, look who we found," she heard her father say as he entered the room. "Studying hard?" Emma nodded her head, hoping that her parents wouldn't see that she was slightly confused about her studies.

"What are you studying this morning, baby?" Snow lifted her daughter out of the chair to sit on her lap. Snow then started to play with one of Emma's loose curls.

"Just the usual," Emma replied, trying to shrug it off, as she closed her book.

"Eh, eh," Charming stopped her, obviously seeing her plan. Emma tried to give him the innocent eyes.

"Yes, Papa?" She blinked her eyes, trying to use her cuteness against him, something that almost always worked. All except when it came to her studies. He was adamant about her lessons. He wasn't so fortunate growing up, so he wanted her to have all she could.

"What are you studying today?" he asked, repeating his wife's question, knowing very well that his six year old daughter would know not to ignore the question this time around.

Emma slouched into her mother, defeated. "I was told that I had to do two studies this morning: grammar, which I finished earlier, and now I'm told to do history."

"And let me guess, you're having a little trouble with your history work?" Snow wrapped her arms around Emma, pulling her daughter a little closer and at the same time opening the book.

"Just a little bit... but.. Papa, I've been studying all morning. My brain can't hold any more information." The little girl threw her hand in the air in frustration.

"Calm down, Princess." Charming kneeled next to his wife and daughter. "Why didn't you come to us when you weren't understanding your lesson? Or go and ask your teacher?"

"Because, Papa, I didn't want to. I like when I can sit here and study with no one watching everything I read or write, and not asking me questions every couple of minutes about the work that I have yet to start."

"Now, who does that?" Snow questioned. Whenever her daughter would study with her, Snow would make sure that she let her daughter work independently unless Emma asked for help.

"Not you, mama," Emma reassured her mother and turned her head to her father and pointing at him, making it clear who she was speaking about. Charming mocked hurt at his daughter's accusations.

Snow just laughed at both her daughter and husband before she placed a kiss on Emma's head. "Well, would you like us to help you now that we are here?" Snow waited until Emma looked up at her and nodded. "Well, alright then, Princess, let's get to work, hmm?" Snow pulled the book closer and turned it to the page that was bookmarked.

"So, what are we learning in History?" Charming pulled up a chair and sat down next to Snow and Emma.

"Looks like we are learning about our family." Snow hid a giggle, understanding why her six year old daughter was having a problem with this lesson. She always hated learning these lessons herself when she was a child.

Emma sighed. "Actually, I've been asked to make a family tree. So I've been given books on our family to study and learn about them."

"I understand, I had to do a similar project when I was your age." Snow ran her fingers through her daughter's hair. "So, you've been studying about the family?" Emma nodded at her mother. "Alright, then why don't you tell us what you know, and then we can continue and help you from there."

Emma sighed and turned the the book back to the first page. "I know grandpa Leo and I know grandma Eva, and I know each of their parents before them. I know that grandpa was the oldest of his three siblings and therefore he was given the throne from his father. Grandma Eva was an only child and married grandpa because she was the princess of the Northern Kingdom. Grandpa and grandma had mama, and mama was an only child." Emma finished. Snow was proud to learn that her daughter was learning of her family. If only Emma would have gotten to meet them, then she could know so much more. "But when grandma passed away, grandpa went looking for another bride, and that is when he married Regina." Emma continued.

"Do you remember why he decided that he would marry Regina?" Snow asked, wanting her daughter to know some of the good in Regina.

"Yes, because she saved you when your horse spooked," Emma spoke proud.

"That is correct." Snow pocked her daughter's nose, and in return Emma let out a giggle. "Is that all you remember?" Snow asked and Emma just shook her head.

"No, mama. I know some of Papa's side, but that's where I started to have questions. " Emma turned to the pages that started to show her father's side of the family.

"What's so confusing about my side of the family? Your mother's side has all those titles and names of places they've come from," Charming started to get defensive, and this was true, his family didn't have nearly as many titles and people.

Emma giggled. "Papa, I don't need to learn the names of kingdoms and all the titles at this very moment. I've been told just to learn about the family history. My teacher said that will be later on...and Papa," She stopped and raised her eyebrow at him, "I never said that your side was confusing. I said that is where I started to have questions." Emma replied and gave her father a look, a look that Charming took as a 'Challenge me' look.

"What can you tell me about my side of the family then?" Charming challenged Emma back.

"I know that grandpapa came from a family where both of his parents were shepherds, and I know that grandma Ruth's mother was a seamstress and her father was a..." she paused, trying so hard not to look at her book. Charming was about to help her but she held out her hand in protest. "No, Papa, I can do this. Just let me remember." Her father smirked at her determination, something he was very proud of, and something she inherited from her mother. "He was a carpenter, like Geppetto," she stated and smiled when her father gave her a nod.

"Very good, Princess." Charming kissed the top of her head, and looked to his wife who was smiling down at her daughter. "It seems that you know a lot, so what's your question"

"Well, Papa, you had a brother. James. Would I call him Uncle James? Or would that be just James? Because even though he was your brother you never knew him. But auntie Red isn't mama's real sister, but she's still my aunt. And Granny isn't my grandma but I still call her Granny." Emma looked confused at her parents.

"Well, everyone calls Granny, Granny. Your Auntie Red, she's like my sister and we've been through a lot together, so in our eyes we consider each other sisters." Snow pointed out trying to explain to her daughter.

"But what about James?" Emma questioned again, clearly sounding annoyed that her original question had yet to be answered.

"Well, Emma," Charming took a pause trying to figure out the best way to explain. Yes, when Emma was younger they had told her about his brother and her grandparents but at the time, she was never able to fully understand the situation. "My brother and I never really met. We knew each other briefly when we were born, but as you know, we were then separated."

"Yes, and he went to King George and his wife."

"And you know that King George isn't a very nice man. James seemed to take after him and he let his ego get the best of him."

"But that doesn't mean that he was evil. I know that King George was evil, he wanted both you and Mama dead... but James didn't do anything that bad. Right? He wasn't as evil as King George, right?" Emma looked at both her parents, and could see that they were hiding something. "What? What did he do?"

"That is a story for another day, Princess." Charming patted Emma's leg and looked back to his wife who gave him a gentle nod.

"This isn't fair," Emma huffed and crossed her arms.

"Well, Em, that story has no relevance with todays lesson," As Emma was about to interrupt Snow continued, "but when the time comes, I'm sure your father will tell you about it." Snow reasoned and giggled at her daughter's pout.

"Alright," Emma groaned. "But you still never answered my original question. Should I call him Uncle or not," Emma argued.

"It's up to you. It wouldn't bother me if you did, or if you didn't," Charming answered her.

"Thank you." Emma lowered her head and rolled her eyes. She didn't want to study anymore, she wanted to go outside and have fun.

"You seem to get everything so far. Is there any other questions that you would like to ask?" Snow took it upon herself to finish up the lesson. She could feel that Emma was starting to drift off and she knew once Emma lost her focus on this, it would take them a while to get her back.

"I... I don't know." Emma sat for a moment confused and going over everything in her mind. "I guess I just needed to say it out loud to someone in order to know it." Emma shrugged.

"Anything else you need help with, while we are here?" Snow looked at her daughter who was anxiously closing her book, showing that she was done with today's lesson.

Once her books were neatly organized on the table, Emma looked at Snow, "I'm just sad that I can't ask them questions about our family's history," Emma admitted to her mother. This was something that both her parents didn't like, the fact that they were her only family by blood that was left. Of course Emma and her parents visited her father's parents' resting places but it wasn't the same. All of her friends talked about stories that their grandparents tell them but she only has what her parents know of their past.

"I know, baby." Snow sighed and let out a sad smile. It was moments like these that broke her heart. "I still wish that they were here too. I know you would have had every single one of them wrapped around your finger like you have your father." Snow kissed her daughter's cheek and pushed Emma's hair behind her ears.

"Can we go and visit Grandma Ruth soon? I wanted to brief her on some things." Emma looked to her father. She saw his smile.

"I will plan a trip as soon as we can." Charming nodded and looked to his wife. "What do you say? Should we make a family trip out of it? Maybe have a riding lesson on the way?" Emma smiled at the potential lesson.

"That sounds like a lovely idea," Snow agreed and placed her daughter on the floor. "Now, why don't we see Cas and have that riding lesson I promised you yesterday?."

Emma jumped up and down. "Let's go, Mamma. I can show you what Cas and I have been working on. Papa, are you coming too? You promised that you would." Emma placed her hands on her hips, trying to act stern.

"Have I ever not followed through on a promise?" Charming asked. Emma thought back, shook her head and smiled. "Good, now let's go. Your mother and I will plan our trip later." Charming stood and gave Snow his hand to help pull her off the chair.

"Come on, Mamma! Cas isn't going to be happy if we make her wait all day! I promised her a carrot." Emma pulled her mother along as both her parents smiled. She was never this excited when it was time for her reading and writing lessons.


I hoped you liked it. Don't forget to leave a review, I always love hearing what you have to say. :)