Author's Note: So sorry for the long wait! I'm working two jobs...but nonetheless here it is! I hope you like it!
Emma squirmed uncomfortably as she stared at herself in the mirror adjusting her outfit for what was probably the tenth time that afternoon. She felt like she couldn't breathe with every new pull on the strings attached to the corset on her body. She brought her hands up just below her breasts and tried to steady her breathing, so that it would hurt less.
"Emma stop moving," Snow scolded as she tightened another part of the corset causing Emma to take a sharp intake of breath. Emma gave her mother a look through the mirror that she couldn't see because she was too busy making her "look like a princess."
"How do you breathe in these things? My lungs feel like they are on fire," Emma tried to bend and move her body to try to loosen the corset, but was only tugged back once again with another pull.
Snow breathed out a laugh, "You get used to it, right Ruby?" She glanced over at her friend who was sitting on Emma's bed watching Snow and Emma bicker.
Ruby laughed, "I refuse to wear those things." Snow gave her friend a look the same time that Emma turned around with her own look of irritation directed towards her mother.
Emma waved her arms around in frustration, "Why do I have to wear one if Ruby doesn't?" Emma winced at the child like whine that escaped her lips.
Snow glared at Ruby who meekly smiled in return then glanced over at Emma and mumbled, "She is." Emma looked over at Ruby who mouthed 'I'm not.'
"That's it this oxygen taker is coming off!" Emma moved her hands behind her back to loosen the strings enough to take it off and put on her t-shirt that was lying beside the mirror on a trunk.
Snow sighed in frustration at her daughter's child like behavior over a corset. She remembered wearing a corset all the time when they lived in the enchanted forest except for the time out in the forest when Regina had taken over the castle. She didn't remember it being that bad. It was just something you got used to wearing like a pair of blue jeans and a pair of sneakers.
Ruby laughed at the scene that was unfolding in front of her, "Remind me to come over more often! You guys are hilarious!" Both Emma and Snow crossed their arms at the same time and gave Ruby a look, which only made Ruby laugh harder as she clutched her stomach with her hand. "Oh my God! She is so your daughter, Snow!"
Emma glanced over at her mother then down at herself to see they held the same stance and uncrossed her own arms just to have them swinging by her sides. The blonde looked over at Ruby and couldn't help the way her lips twitched up on their own accord.
Snow finally let go of her composure and softly laughed, "I'm glad you are amused." She turned to her daughter. "Can you at least try on the dress we picked out?"
"Without the corset?" Emma tried again.
Snow nodded as she picked the dress off the bed and walked towards Emma, "If that's all it takes to get you into this dress, then sure." Emma smiled at her little victory because there was no way in hell she was ever wearing that damn corset again.
Between the three of them, they finally got the red dress on Emma. Emma watched in the mirror as she swayed her hips a bit to get the red fabric to lightly twirl. Snow clasped her hands up near her face as she looked at her daughter. After she gave up Emma and sent her away, she never thought she would have this moment with her. She never thought she would get to be there for her first ball nonetheless see her in a ball gown.
Ruby clapped her hands together excitedly, "Twirl, just once!" Emma looked over at Ruby with a smile and obliged to the request as she turned in a circle making the dress move up slightly. Emma had to admit she felt like a little girl again. The one who always wanted to dress up and be a princess and now she was living that dream. Except this wasn't a dream. This was real.
"I-" Emma started when they heard a knock at her bedroom door. "Come in!" In came both Henry and David.
"Whoa, mom you look like a real princess!" Henry exclaimed as he walked up to Emma and side hugged her.
"Thanks, kid." She returned the hug rubbing his back slightly with the hand closest to him. Emma looked over at her parents and she wasn't sure why their opinion of how she looked mattered to her so much, but it did. "How do I look?" She held onto Henry because she felt if she didn't she would probably be shaking with all the nerves she had.
Snow hadn't said so much as a word ever since Emma put the dress on, but now her eyes were filled with unspilled tears. David held a look of awe that only a father could give a daughter. This look made Emma uneasy because she's never had it directed towards her before. She's only seen and or heard about it.
David was the first to speak, "You're beautiful." He walked over to his daughter and picked up one of her hands. Emma released Henry from her hold and watched her father wondering what his next move was. David tried to indicate to her to twirl and she did all the while holding her father's gaze. This was all foreign to her. He was looking at her like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on and she was. Emma was his baby girl. The one he fought for the night he had to give her up and here she was all grown up and dressing for her first ball. When he released her, Emma instantly missed the contact.
"Aw you guys are too freaking cute!" Ruby's voice interrupted the little moment between father and daughter. "Now remember to at least dance one time with your father, Emma."
Emma laughed nervously at all the attention she was getting, "Okay."
"I want to dance with you too, Mom." Henry added with a smile as he latched himself on her once again.
Emma moved her head to lay it on top of his and smiled, "I couldn't forget about you." Her eyes moved across the room to look at her mother who started to move over to hook one of her arms behind David's back.
David squeezed Snow who was for once out of words in her emotional state, "So, who's idea was it to pick the dress?" Emma looked between her mother and Ruby who had practically begged her to pick this particular dress over the blue and black ones that were also in the running.
Snow breathed out a shaky laugh, "Ruby and I did. Emma couldn't decide, so we put it to a vote and this dress won."
Ruby moved closer to the family huddle that beginning to form, "I am so happy we went with this red dress because you look great!" Emma looked down and smiled at the comment Ruby gave her. Emma would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous for the ball. Every time somebody mentioned it her lower stomach started twisting and turning to the point it almost nauseated her.
Emma looked around at all the support she had: her mother, father, Henry and Ruby. She squeezed Henry a bit to keep her grounded and not fall apart right here in front of everyone. She was so happy and nervous and scared that she didn't know if she wanted to scream or cry. How was she going to get through the whole evening? Dance in front of everybody with her father and son? She had to do all these things, keep her image and try not to look like a fool doing it. She brought her bottom lip into her mouth and began teasing it back and forth with her teeth nervously.
Henry put his chin on her shoulder and looked up at her, "You'll do fine. I believe in you."
Emma looked look at him with a small smile, "I hope you're right, kid."
Side Note: Reviews are always welcome!