In honour of Father's Day Part 1

Emma woke up with a groan when she realized what today was, it's not like she hadn't expected it. The signs were everywhere.

Literally, the signs, for Father's Day had been plastered all over Storybrook, how could she not be expecting this day.

She was trying to figure out how she should approach this day. In reality, she only had 2 options, recognise it, or ignore it. How much had she wanted to go with the latter, but it wasn't right. David was her father, and he had done a lot for her. He deserved this day as much as any, if not more, than the other fathers around Storybrook. Emma laid there for some time coming up with a plan.

As today was Sunday, both she and David had the day off. Any calls to the sheriff station would be forwarded to them, but there was no need from them to have to sit there in the office, which helped with her plans. Emma made herself get out of bed, and made her way to the kitchen where the rest of her family sat.

"Nice of you to finally join us." Snow teased, she smiled at Emma but the smile she got in return seemed a little forced. Snow wondered what was up with her daughter, who was very quite during breakfast. She noticed how Emma kept looking over at David; it looked like she wanted to say something but changed her mind concentration on her breakfast once more.

"Emma, could you help me with the dishes please?" Maybe Emma would talk to her if the boys weren't around. Once Emma joined her at the sink she didn't waste time in trying to get the conversation started. "Is there something wrong? You can talk to me you know."

Emma looked a little disappointed in herself, she really wanted to try and work out her plan, but she didn't know how to bring it up the topic. "It's just I wanted to try and celebrate today, but I don't know how to go about it."

"Today? What's today...ah of course." Snow had forgotten; until she saw Emma glance at David again it suddenly hit her. "Father's Day."

"Yeah." Her voice showing how dejected she felt

"You know Emma, you don't have to do anything, and he won't want you to do something you are uncomfortable doing." Snow rubbed Emma's arm in a soothing motion. Emma thought it was such a motherly motion, it was strange how quickly Snow had gone from friend to mother, but it worked.

"I know, but I want to do something."

Snow was shocked at this, she hadn't realized that it meant this much to Emma.

Emma continued, "I have never celebrated Father's Day, or Mother's Day. The week leading up to the dates, I use to pretend that I was sick so I could stay off school. I hated watching the other kids make their cards, while I had to pretend to do something."

Snow didn't know how to reply to that so she just gathered her daughter up in her arms.

"It's ok now, because I have you two, it unconventional but it's us... "

"Of course Emma. Your father and I love you so much. Just talk to him ok. I will take Henry out for a while and you can go ahead with your plan. Whatever it is he will love it. I promise."

Emma nodded; at least it was a start. It might be easier to talk to him if the other weren't here.

"Henry, me and you are going to spend so quality time together today, go get your bag and shoes please." Henry dashed off up stairs without asking one question, for him that was an incredible.

Laughing at Snow's no nonsense mother tone, Emma made her way over to the couch where David was currently sitting, she waited until Snow and Henry had gone. Her mother whispering good luck to her to on the way out.

"Sooooo...You ok?" Even to Emma's ears that was a lame.

David looked slight miffed at Emma's question. "Um yeah I'm good, you?"

"Yep, yep... Actually no."

Emma still wasn't making any sense. "Emma is there something wrong?"

"I had this plan you see, worked it all out. But when I came downstairs I didn't know what to do. I'm not very good at this you see; it's never been a problem before." Emma rattled it off, only saying half of what was actually going through her head.

David was more confused than ever right now, you had to be blind not to notice that Emma was stressing about something. "Emma breath, calm down and please for the sake of my sanity, explain yourself a little slower."

Emma did as he suggested, took a deep breath in, closed her eyes and counted to ten, and breathed out again. David saw her visible relax "Better?" hoping that his advice would help sort out the things running through her head, which she was now nodding.

"Don't laugh, but I wanted to do something with you today for... you know?" Emma could feel herself going red, what if he thought it was a stupid idea, a rejected her. It wouldn't be the first time someone did that to her.

"Emma, I would love to spend time with you today, but what do you mean, for you know?" Just the thought that he could spend some time with Emma, made him so happy he felt like he could take on the world, he didn't care for what reason she had.

"Father's Day, you really didn't know?" Did that mean he didn't see himself as her father? Her heart rate went into over drive. It was going to happen again, she didn't think she could bear rejection come from him.

"Wow, that's today, it hadn't click." David was stumped, he saw the adverts around, but he didn't think anything of it, he didn't need a day to have his family close, he felt lucky enough every day.

Emma jumped off the couch, ran up the stairs. She knew it was a childish move but there was no way she was going to sit and listen to him tell her he didn't think it was right to celebrate today. Who was she to him, no one, someone he just met.

David didn't quite know what to think of her reaction, Snow better dealt with Emma when she was upset, after all Snow did the talking, he was all about action. Well now was the time for action, he was the one here with her. It was time he started acting like her father. He climbed up to her bedroom door, knocking gently.

"Emma, please come out." He leaned his ear up against the door, trying to hear if she answered him.

"Look its ok I get it, forget I said anything. I am just going to catch up on some paperwork."

This was getting him nowhere. "Emma, I am coming in." He thought it was only fair to warn her first.

"David, it fine. You should catch up with Snow and Henry."

She wasn't going to win this; she didn't get her stubbornness just from Snow. "I don't think I want to. I would very much like to spend the day with my daughter. It is Father's Day after all."

"You don't have to say that to make me feel better." She didn't need pity.

"I'm not thank you very much. I would hate to miss out on not spending time with you, nothing would make me happier."

Emma finally caught on. He wasn't lying, and genuinely wanted to go ahead with her plan, whatever it maybe. "Ok, if you are sure."

"Believe me Emma I am sure. What is first?"

"The idea was that we do things that maybe we missed out on. Things you would have taught me. I can already walk and talk, so we may have to skip over those things. Also as your gift, you get a free pass on any questions you may want to ask. Only on the condition that it stays between us."

"Emma, that sounds wonderful, but you don't have to do anything you don't want to do." He could see that she was really trying to be open, but knowing her it had to be a hard thing for her to do.

"Its fine, I thought a lot about it. Mary... I mean Snow knows a fair amount, but we haven't really had much time together. I wanted to change that and what better time than today."

"Sounds great Emma, I have a condition myself."

"Ook?"

"You are also to ask any questions that you want. I know you have Henry's book, but there must be things that you want to know, about your family, life in the enchanted forest."

"I think that will work." Emma was relieved that this plan was going ahead. It was probably going to be an emotional day, but so very worth it.