David woke up to quiet crying, and not Neal's either. He immediately jumped out of bed and searched for Snow. When he found her he wrapped his arms around her.

"What's wrong? What happened?" he asked voice tense.

"Why would you think something is wrong?" Snow asked.

"Snow, you're crying. Something is clearly wrong."

"Am I?" she asked as she touched her face. "I guess I am," she said with a smile. "Oh don't look at me like that, I'm still hormonal from Neal, but I'm actually very very happy."

"You are?" David asked with more than a hint of concern in his voice.

"Oh yes! Emma called early this morning. She found Killian last night and talked with him. She told him she had feelings for him, and do you know what his response was?" she rushed on, as if she hadn't asked a question. "He wanted to know what that meant for them. He's letting her take the lead and he's not pushing her. He's really in it for the long haul with her. He truly does love her."

"So you are crying because the pirate loves our daughter?"

"Oh no, I already knew he loved her. That is not new news. I'm crying because she told him they should go on a date tonight, and that he should pick her up from here. We get to be a part of her first date with him. She asked me to help her get ready and if we'd keep Henry if he's not staying with Regina tonight."

David couldn't help but smile at that. His little girl, alright full grown daughter, was going on a date and she wanted them to be a part of it. She was giving them all an opportunity that they had never gotten to experience.

"I'm glad we get to play the parent card tonight then. Should I go out and buy a shotgun to scare Hook with?" he asked in a teasing tone.

His wife suddenly looked horrified. "Don't you dare ruin this for us. If you do, she may shut us out of this part of her life, and I will not forgive you for that."

"Snow, I was just joking. I may not have cared for the pirate in the beginning, but he has proven himself several times in regards to Emma. I know he cares for her, and he has changed because he wants to be someone worthy of her. As I told her last night, I thought Prince Charles was a good man, and that opinion didn't change learning who he really was."

Snow looked at him carefully. "If you really feel that way, you would call him Killian, not Hook or pirate. You would use his given name."

David thought about it for a while, and realized she was right. He also thought about the days leading up to Neal's birth and how he and everyone else had jumped to the wrong conclusion about him. And how even though it was made abundantly clear he wasn't welcome, he still came to help protect Snow and the baby. Yea, he needed to go have his own conversation with Killian.

"Will you be alright with the baby for a little while? I have to go run an errand."

Snow nodded at him and gave him that smile she gave him whenever she knew she had made her point and had thus won an argument he didn't even know they were having.

David got dressed quickly and grabbed his keys on the way out the door. When he made it outside he was surprised to see at least 6 inches of snow on the ground. When did it start snowing? Since no snow plows had come through yet, he decided to walk to Granny's. It was much safer that way.

He walked through the Diner to get coffee on the way through to see Killian. It was really cold out today. He hoped Killian hadn't planned anything outside for his date with Emma. He walked up the stairs slowly, trying to decide exactly how to say what he needed to say. He knew I'm sorry wouldn't' really cut it but it was a starting point he guessed. He knocked on Killian's door, wondering for the first time, why he wasn't staying on the Jolly Roger.

Killian opened the door and was very obviously confused. "Your highness," he paused, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Cut the crap Killian, you know why I'm here."

"No mate, I'm actually not sure why you are here, but come on in, and you can fill me in. Is that for me?" he pointed at the second coffee in David's hand.

"Uhh, yes, here," David said as he handed the coffee to him. He looked around the room for somewhere to sit, but finding nothing, stood in the middle of the small room debating how to begin.

"Thanks for the coffee, it is one thing of this realm I truly to enjoy."

"You're welcome. It has gotten rather cold since yesterday. I thought..." he stopped. This is not why he was here.

"Look Killian, I owe you an apology. I know I'm sorry won't even begin to cover it, but I needed to say it. You've done nothing but try to help Emma since you met her, and by association, the rest of us. I specifically have treated you unfairly because of the man you used to be, before you met her. This was not fair of me, and I truly am sorry."

Killian looked awestruck. "Your family is really good at giving speeches that I have a hard time responding to mate." He paused. "I appreciate it, more than you know. I truly do care about Emma, and having you hate me would really hurt any relationship we may come to have."

"Speaking of relationships with my daughter, what have you planned for her tonight?"

Killian scratched behind his ear, "I don't know mate. She told me to dress nice, mentioned something about dinner, maybe a movie, what's a movie? And something about a walk...If it is as cold as you say, that may be out of the question. I'm not sure how this works here, or what she is expecting from me. I don't want to embarrass her."

David looked at Killian and smiled, realizing for the first time that his daughter made the man nervous. Not in a bad way, but because he didn't want to disappoint her, and that comforted him beyond measure. He decided he was going to help the man out, but first he needed to get Henry and Snow on board.

"I'll tell you what," David started, "I love Emma, and she clearly has feelings for you, so I'll help you out here. I can see that you are out of your element here, and you really want this to work. Stop by the Sheriff's station at 12:30, don't come in though, I don't want Emma to know what we're up to. I'll be outside waiting for you and we can go on from there. I'll get Henry and Snow to help out too."

Killian looked at him with relief, "Thank you your highness."

"David, Killian, call me David."

"Thank you David."

David was smiling as he walked out of Killian's room, until he saw Emma walking out of her room at the same time. There was nowhere to hide, and he froze.

"Wasn't it you a little over a year ago, who reminded me he was a married man and would stay away from Killian?" she said with a smirk.

"I don't know what you are talking about," he said and grinned at her. "What have you got there?" he asked motioning to a pile of clothes in her arms.

"Clothes to try on for mom before I go out with Killian tonight," she paused "It won't make her sad will it? Helping me get ready for my date?"

David smiled at his daughter and said, "Nothing would make her happier. She's been crying about it since early this morning, she's that happy."

He took the clothes from her telling her he'd bring it to the loft before he came in to work at the station.

"Thanks Dad."

"You're welcome Emma."

When he walked back into the house with all of Emma's clothes, Snow stopped dead. Before she could even accuse him of something he said "Emma's clothes, we've gotta help Killian plan something good for tonight. He's so lost in this realm."

Snow responded by kissing him and then said "I'll call Henry, you call Once Upon a Tine and make a reservation for them."

David made the call grinning to himself. Emma was going to have one hell of a date tonight.