Timeline wise this goes before the previous chapter. :) Thanks as always for the reviews and alerts.
Title: Early morning
author: Cindy Ryan
Prince Charming was up early...check that he hadn't slept. So instead of waking Snow with his tossing and turning David had decided to just get up and start the day. Never mind the fact that it was barely four. He left the lights off in the loft. Charming started a pot of coffee hoping the smell and noise wouldn't wake anyone.
Leaning against the kitchen counter David found himself watching his daughter sleep. With the cramped quarters Henry had the bed upstairs and Emma more often than not camped out on the sofa. Snow had filled David in on their adventures back home. It made the prince very proud to hear how Emma had handled herself. Their ordeal with the giant and the beanstalk had given David chills not to mention nightmares.
Snow had told him how brave their daughter had been to take on the giant with only a pirate to aid her. To have the guts to come up with a plan to protect her mother if the worst happened was no small feat either. Charming had worried that Emma being suddenly thrown into a world of magic would not only break her away from her family but would take her longer to adapt. But Emma had come through with flying colors and was starting to acknowledge that magic was a powerful tool if learned the right way. She was also understanding the downside of magic...knew everything came with a price. Even though knowledge was power David couldn't keep the fear at bay. As happy as he was that Emma was accepting he and Snow as family David also knew Emma would do anything to protect her loved ones.
Shaking off the dark thoughts David turned to find the coffee ready. He'd been so absorbed he hadn't heard it beep. Pouring a mug full David took a long sip of the bitter liquid. He glanced over at Emma again and saw she had turned in her sleep knocking off the green quilt. Smiling David set the coffee on the counter and crossed the small space to the sofa. Gently he replaced the quilt and tucked it up around Emma's shoulder's. Not being able to resist Charming placed a light kiss on Emma's forehead. She didn't stir so Charming retreated to the kitchen.
Despite the lost years David was grateful Emma had found them. He was amazed at the woman his daughter had become. He was looking forward to getting to know Emma...to watch Henry grow up. The days to come weren't going to be easy but Charming was confident his family could handle whatever was thrown at them. The hard times always made the good ones that much more precious. He had a feeling in the end the good times would out way the bad and Charming was looking forward to spending those with the people he loved.
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