Wonderstruck

Chapter 2

Author's Notes: I've been working on this for a few days and I think I've gotten it to the point where I'm satisfied with it. Sadly no Regina, not yet but she is coming I promise. I hope you guys enjoy and like always please let me know! ~ Bella

"Hey kid," Grumpy said gruffly.

"Hey short stop," Emma greeted in return with a small smile. It used to bother her that Grumpy called her kid but now it was just a term he used to try and rile her up.

"That was weak Em," Grumpy pointed out as he pulled out his pick axe from the leather strap across his back. He stomped out into the arena, the dirt kicking up dust around his slight frame.

She rolled her eyes drawing her sword from her hip. "I can't help it if you're tiny."

"You call me tiny and I'll show you just where I'm not tiny," The dwarf threatened gruffly making Emma snicker.

She always liked the way he spoke to her. She didn't feel like she had to be so "proper". She wanted to curl her upper lip up at the term. It was the biggest complaint she had about being a princess; other than the being locked up on the castle grounds and not allowed to explore. She wanted adventure, she wanted to see the world and fight battles like her father but as a woman she wasn't allowed that sort of thing. Yet her mother spoiled her since her father's death and allowed her to learn the sword and archery; whatever she wanted was hers. She knew her mother was often trying to make up for her father being gone but she couldn't help but take advantage of her mother's willingness to give in. It was why she was allowed all the things she'd been allowed. It was also the source of her current problems.

Grumpy took up position with his axe eyeing the blonde princess. "Your Mom's having problems you know."

"Oh?" Emma asked as she stalked forward swinging her sword in a high arc that Grumpy easily countered.

"You need to tell her about your…proclivities." Grumpy brought the pickaxe down and swung wide as Emma jumped back.

"She doesn't need to know about that." Emma flushed, cutting her eyes at the dwarf. "You didn't tell her did you?"

"Do you think I'm stupid kid? It'd break her heart to learn that I knew before she did."

"You think that's what she'll be mad about?"

"Hell I know she will," Grumpy countered a low swing from Emma's sword, sparks flying as steel met steel.

"I think she'll be mad about other things first," Emma muttered.

"Your Mom may be a lot of things kid but she does love you." Grumpy pointed out as he ducked Emma's swing and brought his axe up to try and hit her in the stomach. She jumped back again as they broke apart.

"I didn't say she didn't love me snaggle tooth," She cut her eyes at the dwarf who glared at her. He'd once called her that when she'd lost her second tooth at six. She sometimes used the nickname on him to piss him off and it always pissed him off. He grumbled but she pushed on. "I just don't want to disappoint her with my…choices. Ever since I was little, she's had this fantasy of me in a wedding dress walking down the aisle to my prince charming."

"Little does she know its Princess Charming you want," Grumpy muttered.

Emma rolled her eyes, "Thanks for making me feel like an asshole you shriveled up shrimp."

"Watch your tone you bleached out little brat." Grumpy snapped, but his eyes were sparkling.

Emma laughed, "yeah, yeah."

"In all seriousness kid, talk to your Mom; I've known her for a long time and I know she just wants you to be happy."

"It'll disappoint her and that's the last thing I want to do." Emma lowered the sword, her head tilted downward.

Grumpy sighed, his pickaxe hitting the packed ground as he stared at her. "She's not going to be disappointed." They'd had this argument a few times since Emma had confessed her feelings for her own sex to him. No matter what he said or did though it never seemed to make a difference. Emma was determined; she wouldn't tell her mother until she was forced to.

"She will be Grumpy. And that was one thing I promised my father on his grave that I wouldn't do. I won't make my mother cry and that's what will happen if she finds out."

Grumpy took a breath, his nose and ears turning red a little as his ire rose. "Listen to me kid. You ain't getting any younger and the nobles are making plans that your mother is going to have to follow through with even if she's heartsick at the thought of 'em."

"What?" Emma almost dropped the sword she was leaning against as her jade eyes bugged out of her head.

"You heard me. They're planning on marrying you off and you'd best get on talking to your Mom because she's just about the only one that stands a chance in hell at saving you from that fate." Grumpy sighed as he swung his axe around. "Talk to her Emma." It was rare for him to use her name but when he did it meant business. "You don't have much time."

Emma frowned, staring at him before giving him a nod.

"Emma," Her mother's soft voice echoed in her chambers. Emma looked up from braiding her hair at her vanity. She watched in the polished silver surface of the mirror as her mother came closer with a tender smile. Jade eyes met jade in the mirror as mother and daughter stared at one another.

"What's wrong Momma?" She asked, unable to stand the silence.

"Your birthday is fast approaching. You'll be twenty summers. It's a big day."

"It's just another day Momma." Emma pointed out as her mother took her hair in her hands and completed the braid she'd started.

"I've been thinking of how we should celebrate." Snow continued as she plaited Emma's golden silky locks easily. Her eyes remained down on the thick locks of her daughter's hair not wanting to see her face when she asked this of her.

"However will we do that?" Emma asked with fake sweetness since Grumpy had warned her of her mother's binding with a push of the nobles.

"I thought perhaps a ball. We could invite our allies as well as the nobles to celebrate your birthday." Snow continued finally tying off Emma's hair and taking a step back to allow her daughter to stand.

Emma studied her in the mirror before finally rising to her feet. "What if I don't want to have a ball?"

Snow faltered, "Well I suppose that would be fine," She spluttered out watching as Emma turned to face her with a soft smile.

"A ball is fine Momma and you may invite our allies. It's only proper." She walked towards the three stone steps that led up to her bed chambers.

"Winter will be on us soon. We will have to host them for a few days." Snow said softly, knowing how Emma felt about her privacy.

Her child wasn't particularly fond of those that she didn't know well and sometimes those she did know well depending on how they felt about her more princely habits as she preferred to refer to them. Snow herself still had the same tendencies as her daughter and she saw no problem with them but those around them surely did.

"That's fine Mother. I'm sure I can find some way to occupy myself if they aren't what they should be."

"Unfortunately, it won't be that simple anymore Emma. You are a grown woman; they will expect your presence. It's the way of things, I'm afraid."

Emma opened her mouth to protest before closing it with a nod. "Of course Mother; it's only for a few days." She could grit her teeth and bare it. She could. "Will I be allowed to have others at my ball as well?"

"Who do you have in mind?" Snow asked folding her arms.

"I'd like the dwarves to attend." They would run interference if something happened or if someone got to be too much for her.

Snow started to open her mouth to refuse before smiling and giving a nod. "So would I love; we'll ask them."

"Thank you Mother."

"You only turn twenty once darling. I just hope it's everything you'll want it to be."

"I'm sure it will be." Emma forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.