SORRY IT'S TAKEN ME SO LONG TO UPDATE, MY DUCKLINGS.
DON'T OWN IT.
Emma cracked one eye open, groaning when the light only aggravated her pounding head. She heard a voice that seemed far away, though she was aware of the presence right beside her. The accent could only belong to one person.
"What happened?" She croaked, her throat dry from not drinking in the past few hours. Instantly Snow supplied a glass of water. Graham helped her sit up.
"You had a panic attack." He answered. "But you're going to be okay."
"How much do you remember?" Snow asked, taking a seat on the bed, careful not to squish her daughter's legs. The blonde looked paler than usual, and her hair was severely disheveled.
"I overreacted." Emma said. Her bottom lip began to tremble. "And now he's going to hate me."
"Oh no, Sweetheart, he won't. Your father loves you more than anything –myself included."
"Can I talk to him?" The blonde questioned, her voice still wobbling and hesitant. "Am I allowed to leave here?"
"Yes and yes." Snow smiled.
"I'll help you up." Graham took the glass and offered her his arm.
"I can walk." Emma rolled her eyes.
"I'll go, um, check on Henry. Cause James definitely didn't go check on him like he said." Snow excused herself.
"What does that mean?" She looked up at Graham, taking a minute to get her bearings.
"He pulled a 'you'." Graham smiled. "He got emotional and ran." Emma stuck her tongue out.
"Kyla."
"Another name?" He looked confused for a moment, then realized the change of subject. She nodded. "It's pretty."
"So, a panic attack, huh?" Emma pushed herself off the bed with a snort, rubbing her stomach. "I thought I was over those." She remembered when she was young, the attacks keeping her up almost every night. And more recently, when she'd thought Mary Margaret was going to be charged with murder, or when Emma had finally found her family.
"Emma, are you okay?" Graham stopped her when they got halfway down the hall. "I don't mean physically, I mean…"
"I am." She smiled. "Obviously I'm scared to talk to James, but I'm okay. And I'm sorry about scaring you guys, earlier. I didn't mean to get that upset, I just… will you give me crap if I blame the hormones?"
"Are they really the culprit of the attack?"
"They certainly didn't help it." She replied. They reached the main part of the castle. "Can you…?"
"Yeah, I'll go check on something. Anything. Good luck with your dad." Graham gave her an encouraging kiss before setting off on a hunt for Henry to see if he wanted to go horse riding.
"Thanks." She stared after her husband, then began thinking as to where James would be. She climbed the stairs up to her and Graham's room, where she found her father. "Dad?" She called out, her voice soft.
"Emma." James turned around, smiling warmly, though it looked somewhat forced.
"I uh, I'm sorry. About freaking out." God, she sucked at this. She shifted from foot to foot, trying to come up with something a little more eloquent. "And I don't blame you if you're mad, or you hate me, cause I really screwed up, but–"
"Baby girl, I could never hate you." He walked closer, still staying a healthy distance away just in case she didn't want her personal space invaded. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. I am so sorry for keeping that from you, I," he sighed, "I know you don't need to be protected. It's one of the things I love about your mother, and I'm glad you inherited that. But you have to understand that I'm your dad, and it's my job –and Snow's– to protect you because that's what parents do."
"I know it is. I feel that way about Henry, and I already feel that for my daughter." A small smile graced her lips. "And I really am trying to let you guys in, to accept help. But it's incredibly hard for me, because I had been alone for 28 years, until I met Mary Margaret. Then she began mothering me without even knowing she was my mom. Even then it was almost like I was the one protecting her. It's just, it's what I'm used to and… it's who I am. The fight in me, the independence… I got it from you guys. So you have to understand why I am the way I am."
"C'mere." He opened an arm, which she walked into. Then he led them out to the balcony. "I think we need to make a plan, and figure out what we can take from this conversation."
"I didn't realize you're such a talker." She mumbled.
"So you know that I will always protect you, even if you don't want it." James ignored her comment. "And I know that you don't want–"
"Need."
"To be protected. So how about this: I'll try to be less of a caveman, as your mother likes to call me at times. And can you try to let me help?"
"Sounds good." Emma nodded, resting her head against his shoulder. She closed her eyes, relishing in the fact that she's finally with her parents. Her parents who love her more than anything. Tears prick at her eyes and she once again mentally curses her daughter.
"Are those happy tears?" The question nearly gives her a heart attack. She thought James was going to stay quiet and just be happy with the contact. His voice scared her.
"I'm not crying." She said, confusion lacing her voice.
"You wanted to, though. I know because your mom does the same thing as you –she goes really still and seems so tranquil."
"Yeah." She smiled. "Yeah, they are." She lifted her head and turned to leave and find her son.
"And Emma…" James called after her.
"Mhm?" She turned back around to face him, halfway across the room. Her face was hurting from smiling so hard.
"Darling, you don't have to fight all the time. I know that seems easier to you, and it's all that you know, but… you don't have to. Our family, we're all a support system. Keep it in mind, okay?"
"I will." Emma nodded. "Hey, do you know where I can find Henry?"
"Probably at the stables." James shrugged.
"Thanks. For everything." She left the room, leaving James smiling after her. They did not need to talk about the broken trust thing; he already knew what he did wrong, and he knew that she knew. It was more than the trust, and he knew now that he hadn't lost it.
I APOLOGIZE AGAIN FOR HOW LONG THIS TOOK. YOU GUYS ARE THE MOST AMAZING READERS. THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!