Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time. You know that, right?

Chapter 4

"Do you think she hates us?" Snow asked her husband that evening. They were cuddled together on the couch, while Henry watched TV at their feet.

"Nah." James replied. "She's probably just overwhelmed." It was something they had been telling themselves all day to rationalize Emma's strange behavior. "I mean, if you think about it, it's bound to be awkward."

"I just wish that she would have given us a chance to explain. Explain why we did what we did." Snow sighed, voicing her thoughts aloud.

"To protect her." James finished.

"Yeah, but what if she doesn't get that. What if she just blames us for everything?" Snow began to ramble. "For everything that went wrong in her life. Which, if you think about it, was our fault."

"Stop." James said. "There's no use stressing about it now. Let's just wait until she gets back."

But Snow ignored him. "And she's been gone for so long. It's almost midnight. What if she's in trouble? She crossed the room towards the window, lifting back the curtain and peeking out, as if she could see Emma in the darkness.

"Snow, she's 28." James pointed out. "She's not a child anymore." But there was a note of worry in his voice. After all, she was his daughter.

"I know." Snow released the curtain. Just then, there was an urgent knock on the door.

"I'll get that." James stood up and started towards the door. All day, they'd been receiving calls and visits from desperate people trying to reach their loved ones. According to some people who'd come by earlier, magic was already wreaking havoc on Storybrooke. It seemed like James and Snow had slipped right back into the leader roles they'd had back in their past lives.

Expecting a worried citizen, he plastered on a welcoming smile and threw open the door. "How may I help…?" He started to say for the hundredth time of the day. But instead of a frazzled looking person, it was Graham. And in his arms was an unconscious Emma.

Instantly, James slipped into father mode, something he didn't even know he knew how to do. "What happened?"

Overhearing the distress in her husband's voice, Snow immediately crossed the room towards the open door. She gasped when she saw Emma, a gut wrenching feeling growing inside. Neither of them registered that Graham was supposed to be dead, as their unconscious daughter took precedence.

"Hey. Graham, you're back!" Henry, who'd joined his grandparents at the door, said in surprise. Of course, everyone ignored him.

"Here, her room's this way." Snow led the way to Emma's room, and Graham followed obediently. He laid her down carefully on her unmade bed, and pulled the covers over her prone body. Then, feeling embarrassed because Snow was watching with a smile, he kissed her forehead gently before exiting the room and closing the door behind her.

"What happened?" James repeated his question again, crossing his arms over his chest. It was obvious that he was trying to act like a good father. Henry bit back a giggle as he watched the exchange between the supposed to be dead sheriff who was very obviously in love with his mother and his grandfather who was trying to pull the overprotective dad act.

"We were at the station, and she was really drunk and collapsed." Graham answered, his voice laced with worry.

"What were you doing at the station?" James asked sternly. He had a million things to say but decided to hold them back until Snow couldn't hear. He didn't really need to be called an overprotective hypocrite.

"Oh, lay off him." Snow told her husband, rolling her eyes. "Like you said earlier, Emma's 28. She can take care of herself." She turned to Graham. "Why are you back?"

"I don't know. I just woke up on the floor of the station. But I heard some people say that magic is causing some problems. Maybe it undid my death?" Graham guessed.

Snow nodded and smiled at Graham. "Makes sense. Thanks for bringing her back."

Graham nodded. "No problem. Let me know if she wakes up or anything."

"I'll walk you out." James said, his tone leaving no room for protest. Graham followed obediently towards the door, while Snow went back to send Henry to bed.

Once Snow was out of earshot, James began his speech. "Listen, carefully Hunstman." He started. "Emma's my only daughter. I know I've missed out on a lot of her life, but that doesn't mean that I don't love and care for her any less."

"I know." Graham nodded. But James wasn't finished.

"You brought her home so drunk she passed out. I don't know what you were doing, and I don't think I want to know. But you need to know that if you hurt her in any way, I will make you pay. Is that understood?" He said, leaning into the younger man.

"Yes." Graham said simply. James stared at him for a long moment. Suddenly, a thought dawned on him.

"You love her." He realized slowly.

Graham nodded again. He didn't even bother to deny it, for it was overwhelmingly clear from the way he looked at her.

James didn't know whether to be happy or not about this revelation. On one hand, he knew from his past life as Charming that Graham was a genuinely good guy, from the way he'd spared Snow's life to how he helped him escape Regina's castle. But on the other hand, from everything Emma had told Snow, which Snow had then told him earlier that evening, Emma had had a hard life, full of disappointment and heartache. She really didn't need any more of that. But then again, it didn't matter if he approved of Graham dating Emma or not. It wasn't like Emma was a teenager he could control.

"Okay." James said simply. He opened the door. "Thanks for bringing her home."

Author's note: The idea of James trying to act like an overprotective father to Emma was so ridiculous I had to put it in