Chapter XXXVI

The Social Event of the Year

Italics indicate Flashbacks

They had transformed the school's gym into a ballroom. It wasn't exactly perfect, but it would work for now. Next year there would be more time to prepare and maybe even build a proper ballroom and banquet hall. Better yet, the next ball they had would be a homecoming. Snow smiled at that idea. They would hold it in her family's castle. They could all be together. Things would finally be right. They would all have their Happily Ever Afters.

Snow smoothed her hand over the long, full skirt of her gown. The next ball would be in a much grander ballroom. Then she would get to see Emma fall in love and dance with her True Love. Just like she had with David and her father and her mother before them. Then they would all get to watch Henry do the same.

Snow knew that she'd watched her parents happy and dancing together. The memories were vague and fuzzy, though. The images faded by time and trauma. buried in the past.

She had been so young when her mother had died. It hadn't been fair. She remembered other balls, later balls, so much better. Snow remembered dancing with her father, safe and loved. She'd danced with princes and lords, with her friends. She'd laughed and flirted and had so much fun. Those were bright and lovely memories. They were only surpassed by the times she'd danced with Charming. Snow loved balls. Though she'd never realized how hard they were to plan and organize! She'd almost torn her hair out. The amount of work was ridiculous! There were phone calls, agreements, choices, and compromises. It was overwhelming. It was madness!

Regina had always made it seem so easy.

It was her father's birthday and the whole palace was buzzing with activity. There was going to be a Ball and she couldn't wait. Several of her friends were coming along with their families. There were going to be acrobats and a famous bard had composed a song for her father. There were be musicians, players, and fairies. The animals and birds from the menagerie were being moved to the courtyard so guests could see them. Then tomorrow there would be games and a tournament. There would be so much food! The desserts would be glorious. The chefs prepared sugar statues and tiered cakes, puddings and tarts! It was going to be amazing and, on top of everything else, Father had asked Helen to make her three new gowns.

Snow left her tutors, she was too excited to study and went to her step-mother's chambers. It was hectic, people were darting in and out of the open door. She pushed her way through.

Her stepmother, Regina, was standing in the middle of the room on a footstool. She was above everyone and everything else. She was beautiful.

Helen was fussing at Regina to stay still as she stitched a final fitting for her gown. Other people, ladies in waiting, porters, scribes, and advisers flitted in and out.

Regina stood half-dressed answering questions and directing things gracefully. It was like she didn't have to think about it. She knew all the answers already.

She was a real queen, the kind that Snow wanted to be one day.

Her step mother's breasts spilled over the top of the corset that Helen was pulling tight. Snow could see the nasty scratches and bruises the rough stays left on her skin. Regina never winced or even said ow, though. Another woman, Francine, was using a comb and a bristle brush on Regina's dark hair. She was pulling and tugging it to make the hair straight so she could style it. She hoped Francine did one of her elegant styles. Regina's hair was so dark and pretty, and when Francine twisted in diamonds and pearls it was amazing. Snow was going to ask her to make her hair match Regina's.

Despite all the tugging, pulling and styling, Regina didn't flinch. She did hold out her hand and a footman brought her a cup of something to drink.

Her face was beautiful, already made up, powdered and painted. Snow could see the line where the creamy white of the makeup stopped and Regina's dark skin was bare. The dress would cover it all up soon and she would look perfect.

Her lips quirked into a smile so small that it was almost unnoticeable. "Thank you, Mikel."

Before she had a chance to drink, a woman held out two bunches of flowers.

Regina regarded them for a moment. "Put the dahlias along the hallway where the salons are open, Cordelia. Make sure to include sprigs of lavender to counteract the stench of brandy and cigar smoke." She sounded distracted, but not unkind. She even knew the woman's name. Snow hadn't even known that.

Snow also didn't know the name of any flowers or where to put them. Regina knew everything.

"Take the hydrangeas to the back of the buffet tables." She sighed," No crocuses this time. Last season Duke Morrowell's son almost had a fit, his allergies."

"Speaking" A woman piped up "of allergies, Majesty, I had to change out some of the foods Prince Dechlan of- "

Regina waved her away. "The nuts and cloves, I remember." She sighed. "I assured His Majesty that the kitchen staff would stick to mild regional flavors. He wants our guests to get a taste of his kingdom."

Regina turned to one of the young porters who had brought several pages of paper in. "Drop those over on my desk and please make sure that all the corridors have fresh rushes on the floor." She frowned, her forehead wrinkled a bit. "And ensure that His Majesty's hounds are out in the kennel and that there is space for any of our guests' dogs, Dennis." The young man nodded and darted off immediately.

Snow thought that there would be a break where she could talk to her stepmother, but it was not to be. Lord Shillsburnry, who was in charge of her father's treasury and finances, entered the room with a huff. He pushed by the handmaidens and porters. He burst into the room with papers and slate in his hand.

He scowled at Regina."The amount of gold this is costing is- "

Regina tried to turn, but Helen pushed her back into place.

Her head snapped to the side, her dark eyes flashed. "His Majesty was the one who demanded many of these expenses, Shillsburry."

Regina's voice was quiet but firm and commanding. It was regal, like a queen.

"It is not your place nor mine to question His Majesty."

She held out her hands and the footman, Mikel, carefully placed an ornate bracelet on each of Regina's arms. They were beautiful and big enough to cover up the odd bruises that wrapped around her wrists. Snow had no idea how she'd hurt herself in such a way.

"We are here to make his requests reality."

He scowled and his nostrils flared, not pleased, "But-"

Helen tugged hand on the corset stays and Regina paused for a moment. She didn't speak or even make an ow face. She took a small sip and swallowed before speaking.

"But what? The taxes will cover any shortfall that going over budget now could cause. As long as we pay salaries, we can make some small sacrifices elsewhere until the treasury-"

Regina finally saw her. "Snow." Her voice softened and she smiled, "What can we do for you, Dear?"

Everyone else turned to greet her, they bowed and smiled.

"I came to see you." She walked closer to both Regina and the ball gown she'd be wearing. It was beautiful white silk and brocade. It was almost as pretty as hers.

"And what a pleasure it is to see you, Your Highness." Lord Henry, Regina's father, spoke up and came closer with a big smile on his face. She hadn't even noticed that he was there. "Regina is busy with tonight's preparations and too busy to treat me to a tour of the ballroom"

He held out a hand, "Perhaps a kind princess has a little time for an old man?"

"Only" Snow took his hand, "if you tell me about how you met Lady Cora at a ball and fell in love once again. I love that story. "

He smiled and patted her arm, "It is an interesting one." He pulled out the old coin that he always kept in his pocket. "Well, my dear, it started..." He absent-mindedly rubbed his thumb over the coin as they walked. Henry smiled as he told her the story of how he and his wife had fallen in love.

Memories were so odd. Snow loathed that these memories were so clear. She would trade a thousand Regina memories for one more memory with her mother.

Hindsight being twenty-twenty, she wasn't so sure that this was a happy memory at all. Regina's brown eyes had been flat, cold, and emotionless. She'd barked orders at the poor servants and staff. Her impatience with Helen had been rude. Regina's lack of decorum, letting people, men, see her undressed, had been signs. Signs that she had been too young to see and understand them. She'd been a child, innocent and sweet. She was not a child now, she could see Regina for what she was. Regina was an irredeemable monster.

Regina had been plotting against them. She'd corrupted their servants and soldiers, right under their noses. The bruises hadn't been from corsets. Those had to be from dark magic and sorcery. She'd been sneaking away to cavort with Dark Ones and dragons. She'd been planning her own husband's demise.

Lord Henry had known. Was that why he'd always lead her away from his daughter? Had he been protecting her from Regina or protecting Regina from discovery? He'd been such a kind man, full of laughter and stories. Too bad Regina hadn't taken more after him instead of being Cora made-over.

Had he, though? When Snow thought about it, he hadn't always been so happy. Sometimes, many times, he had been different: quiet and sneaky. He'd often conducted business with odd couriers and traders. He'd spent time with the servants and villagers instead of other nobles. In fact, she remembered him talking to the kitchen staff that very day. He'd demanded that they do certain things with the left-overs from the feasts. He'd had no right to tell her father's staff to do anything.

After Regina had murdered her father, Lord Henry had stayed at her side. He was loyal to her until the very end. He'd consorted with gypsies and raised an Evil Queen. He couldn't have been a good person. Only someone with their own darkness could love a monster like Regina.

Regina had been like the Ball, she pretended to be so good. She had been glittering and wonderful to look at. Underneath her facade, there was nothing but darkness. The sort of darkness that happened after the dances and frivolity. Her soul was the ballroom after the festivities ended, bare and full of shadows.

This Ball, The Family Unity Ball, had officially kicked off. People were arriving and enjoying themselves. There would be no shadows or sadness here. This was her, their, time to shine.

Grumpy, freshly shaved and dressed in a slightly-too-long suit, was acting as their herald. He announced the arrival of entitled guests. His booming voice caught everyone's attention. He didn't even need the traditional staff.

They had a banner for each of the expected families and kingdoms. The gym's walls popped with color and pride. Her own, her father's and their kingdom's, hung high. She was the true queen and her family was finally reunited. This was the grand celebration that she, and everyone else, deserved.

"It looks gorgeous, Your Majesty." The Blue Fairy, dressed in the neat and tidy habit of the nunnery, smiled at her. "Your mother and father would be very proud."

All the dark thoughts were almost immediately pushed aside.

"Since our Savior broke the curse, things can finally go back to the way they should be. We can restore the rightful order." Blue smiled and lowered her head in deference as she spoke.

"Attention"

Grumpy bellowed and half the room turned.

"His Royal Majesty King Stephen and his Queen Leah and her Highness Princess Aurora."

"Oh doesn't Princess Aurora look beautiful?" Blue cooed.

Snow nodded, happy to see her old friend again.

"Pardon me, Blue, I must go say hello."

She worked through the crowd, not as elegant as her mother Eva, or as commanding as Regina. She held her head high and smiled graciously. She was Snow White and this was her kingdom, her people, and she was their queen.

She looked around as she went. Emma and Henry hadn't arrived yet. Emma had sworn that she would come. She had found her own dress and had said that she wanted Ruby to help her get ready. Snow tried to tell herself that it was okay, but that had hurt a little. She had wanted to help Emma get ready for her first ball. Now it was going to be a surprise. A good one, she hoped.

David looked so handsome in his tuxedo and she knew Henry was going to wear his good suit and a tie. He looked so cute in that suit. They would all be together and dressed like the royalty they were. They were going to have their very first family portrait tonight. The Royal Family at their Ball. It was the sort of scene that artists would have fallen all over themselves to paint.

They would present Emma, dance, and have a wonderful time. It was going to be another wonderful memory for her. This was their night and no one, not even Regina Mills, could ruin it.

She understood why she was at this silly overgrown school dance, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Belle could think of a dozen other places she'd rather be, and that included playing in traffic.

Mulan was uncomfortable too. She tugged at her suit lapels again. It wasn't the clothes. Mikel Ceola had tailored a beautiful suit. The suit was beyond simply good, it was perfect.

Mulan's suit was a gleaming black and of instead of normal shirt and tie she wore an almost sheer vest made of red silk. She was sleek, muscular and with her hair styled in a high, tight, tiered ponytail, she was quite dapper.

The clothes weren't the problem, it was the Ball. Mulan was a soldier in a foreign land and way outside of her comfort zone. The school's strict no weapon policy meant that Mulan had to leave her sword at home. Still, nerves and discomfort aside, Mulan was a perfect gentlewoman.

The elementary school's parking lot was overflowing. Three teenagers, two boys, and a girl were acting as valets. The school's double doors were wide open and an actual red carpet ran down the center of the stairs. Two young men, boys from the high school basketball team, were wearing slacks and sports coats. The odd fit told her that they'd borrowed them from their fathers' closets. They were standing at attention on either side of the door.

She recognized them as squires from Stephan and Leah's Court. Despite twenty-eight years in high school, they remembered their training. They each bowed, to the exact height that was respectful to her rank.

"Lady Belle." The redheaded boy on the right hesitated a moment while staring at Mulan, "And her honored guest."

The other boy, a whip-thin blonde with an almost mustache, mumbled into a walkie-talkie. After a moment he extended his arm to motion them inside.

It was interesting. Belle had never been inside the school. It was neat and tidy, like her library, but also cheerful. There was students' artwork on the wall and science projects on tables along the hallway. There were pictures of smiling children and their teachers.

"There are so many children." Mulan looked around, "How can so many parents afford this?"

Mulan's home wasn't so different from her own. Belle smiled, "It is free and mandatory for all children to attend. They learn to read and basic mathematics, they even learn history and science. The Upper School-"

Mulan stopped mid-step "Upper?"

Belle had been shocked too. Education existed for the rich or pious. Commoners and especially women could barely sign their name if that.

"Yes, High School, and you don't graduate until you're seventeen or eighteen. They learn higher mathematics, languages and even job skills. Several young ladies are learning to be seamstresses. The men learn how to repair cars or build things too. They're not apprentices, though. They go home to their parents at the end of the day."

Mulan looked fascinated. "When I was seventeen, I was already in the army."

"So were many of them." Belle thought of the ogres and the children that fought them. Fought? No, they'd been lambs to the slaughter. "Say what you will about the Evil Queen's Curse, but it did give everyone a much better life." Especially the children. They didn't starve or beg for coins, they didn't suffer from plagues or wars. They got to be children (for twenty-eight years and counting).

Speaking of children, there were several milling about the hallway. On the right side of the hall there were doors that lead to the gymnasium and the Ball. The cafeteria was on the left and there was some sort of carnival inside. Children were going to the carnival and their parents the ball.

"Holy crap!"

A girl, no older than eight, ran up to them. Her brown curls bounced over and covered her eyes and she was all but vibrating with excitement.

"You're her! You're really really the actual Mulan!"

A few others heard her and ran over. It was a human avalanche of praise and questions.

Mulan looked petrified. The woman had waged war. She'd fought mystical beasts and traveled through portals but children scared her. Belle tried not to grin at the woman's predicament.

"All right!" Another, thankfully adult, voice sounded off. "Give her some space. Back off you wee monsters!"

The speaker, a woman, pushed her way through the hoard of children. Belle didn't recognize her, but she wore a uniform much like Ruby's. Only this one was dark blue instead of khaki. The woman's red hair was in a tight french braid and her lips quirked into a crooked smile.

She held out a hand to Mulan, "Merida Hill, Captain of the Storybrooke Fire Department." She looked around, "And mother or auntie to all these knee-high terrors."

Mulan moved to shake her hand but instead, they grasped at the forearm, a warriors greeting.

Merida grinned, "They're excited, you're quite the hero to these children. They've watched yer movie more times than I want to count."

Mulan released their grip and shifted on her feet. "I heard that there was a story about me but I- "

"But ye aren't" Merida nodded, "sure how accurate it is yeah?

The woman was direct and friendly and her accent showed that she wasn't from The Enchanted Forest. Belle was pretty sure she was from the Northern Isles.

Belle looked around, there were people wearing uniform suits and even tuxedos. Many wore their Sunday clothes, button-up shirts with clip-on-ties and khaki pants. It was a mix of literal princes and paupers dropped into a New England town. There were still haves and have-nots. Belle felt a little self-conscious. She was wearing a gorgeous dress that her father had paid for it. She was sure that it cost more than some people paid for a month's rent.

"If you're looking for work"

Belle refocused on Merida and Mulan's conversation.

"We're always looking for dependable folks at the fire station. It isn't grand, but its honest work. It's more important now than ever. We've already had four major fires since the curse ended."

What? Belle hadn't known that. The newspaper had been so busy with the smear campaign that it did not report real news anymore. She should start watching Good Morning Storybrooke instead.

"Mum" The brown haired girl tugged on Merida's uniform jacket "Mum" More tugging. "Mummy"

Merida sighed and looked down, "Yes, Child of Mine?"

"Can she come to watch the movie with us, they're showing it on the big projector screen after Toy Story."

The other children nodded, "Yeah, Dad said that Ball stuff is royals and nobles. Mulan is a soldier, like us." He faux punched the air. "I don't know why you guys are going anyway."

Merida sighed, "Because we have a duty." She didn't sound excited but resigned to attend.

Mulan nodded, she seemed to understand exactly what Merida was saying.

The kids looked disappointed, though. The little girl was pouting, and that turned out to be Mulan's weakness. She knelt down so she was at the girl's eye level.

"After I attend to my duties I'm sure I can come by and watch this movie with you all."

She over-enunciated the unfamiliar word but her tone was kind and genuine.

"If that is okay?''

The last part was for Merida. The woman smiled at nodded. The children let out a collective cheer and ran into the cafeteria, probably to share the news.

Despite her reluctance, Mulan was good with children. Belle wondered if Aurora had seen this side of the warrior.

"I had no idea I was being escorted by a celebrity." Belle looped her arm through Mulan's.

Merida shrugged, "We have cartoon movies too ye know. Yours won an Oscar."

"Who" Belle puzzled. "is Oscar?"

Merida laughed long and loud. "I forgot that you two don't have the cursed knowledge like the rest of us." She checked to see if her brood of children were safely in the cafeteria. They were and she sighed and nodded her head towards the Ball.

"Best we go in and make an appearance. The sooner we get in there, the sooner we can get out."

Belle decided that she liked Merida Hill.

It was like walking into a memory. The gymnasium was decorated with colorful banners and white flowers. Beautiful silks and ropes of light were wrapped along the rafters high above them. It almost seemed like the ceiling of a grand tent and not a gymnasium (not that she had been in a lot of gymnasiums).

Like a memory, though, the details were imperfect. This was not a ballroom, and it was definitely not the Enchanted Forest. Most of the Royal and Noble banners displayed along the walls were not embroidered tapestries, they were only painted pieces of canvas. Nice neatly painted canvas, but canvas all the same. Belle found her familial banner out of habit more than desire.

"It is." Mulan stopped and her mouth twisted. She seemed to lack the words to politely describe her opinion.

"It is ridiculous.'' Merida finished for her, "Its intended for the kids and Snow White turned it into a mess. Typical."

She wasn't sure, Belle realized, who Merida was loyal to. Belle wrinkled her nose in disgust at that thought. Loyalties. Loyalty was earned, not owed. She hated the idea of Storybrooke being chopped up and portioned out. Why? Because some people happened to be born lucky in another world.

"Granny and Sebastian are doing food for us."

Merida jerked her thumb at one of the many bustling servers carrying trays of food and drink. "The kids get a pizza buffet and I'm kind of jealous."

Mulan's eyes lit up at the word pizza. It was her new favorite food. Belle had a feeling that her escort would leave her to join the children sooner rather than later. Lucky.

The musicians, three men, and a woman started to play again. Belle grinned, if she was going to be here, she might as well dance. If she wanted to dance, she better do so before Mulan abandoned her. She tugged Mulan towards the dance floor, "Dance with me."

Mulan looked to Merida, possibly to escape. The redhead grinned and backed away with her hands held up in surrender.

Mulan muttered something that meant either traitor or barrel maker under her breath. Belle chuckled and dragged her reluctant escort the rest of the way to the floor.

This was a group dance which meant that along with her, Mulan would dance with every other woman on the floor. Belle didn't know if Mulan knew that or not. She did know that Mulan had not seen what she had. Aurora, dressed in shimmering pink, had just stepped onto the dance floor. Belle smirked at her own cleverness as they lined up to dance.

Mulan looked more nervous now than she had when she's fought the would-be-yaoguai. She gave her an encouraging smile, "Just follow the others and you'll be fine."

The slender man on Mulan's left grinned and pulled his pants legs up a bit to show that he had a pair of artificial legs. "If I can do it, then you definitely can." He winked at her, "We start on the downbeat." He grinned and ran his hand over his curly blonde mustache and beard, "Well actually it's when my wife says so. I don't know a downbeat from a cow."

It wasn't the most well-timed start, but the downbeat hit and the dance began. The men, the bearded gentleman, and Doc, on either side of her, whispered instructions to Mulan.

She wasn't bad, in fact, the warrior moved with grace, even if she was a little unsure of herself. They turned and then, to only Mulan's surprise, they switched dancing partners. Belle could tell, down to the second, when Mulan realized that she would be dancing with Aurora. Her face lit up. It was like watching the sun rise over the sea, a blast of color over a previously dark world.

Belle's new dance partner, the bearded blonde man, grinned like he was having the time of his life. "My wife has had me practicing all week. She only got to serve at balls before, and now she gets to dance."

He was dancing with Belle, but he was staring at the next woman in line. She was a pretty woman with dimples, braided brunette hair and a baby blue sundress. They were a lovely couple and were really enjoying the ball. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.

The music shifted and they changed partners again. Belle, even in her very- high-heels, couldn't see Mulan and Aurora no matter how she twisted and craned her neck. The blonde man, Gerald, was well our six feet tall and gave her a thumbs up to let her know that the two women were together. If nothing else worked out, Belle grinned, then at least Mulan and Aurora got one dance.

The first time he'd attended a Ball, it had been overwhelming. There had been so many people and so much food. Talking, music, stomping, clapping and the dancing. For a man who'd spent most of his life minding sheep, it had been wild. He'd been to his share of taverns and festival dances but it wasn't the same. Nothing would ever compare to that first ball.

"You never forget your first."

The voice was directly behind him and David jumped and twisted around.

"Kathryn!"

His ex-wife (or ex-fiance or both?) hid a giggle behind a cup of punch. She was wearing blue, and though he didn't love her, he couldn't deny that she was beautiful.

"I remember the first time we danced together." She smiled and pushed a golden curl away from her face, "You were awful."

"Hey." He felt defensive despite knowing she was right. "I wasn't that bad."

He looked around. Snow was busy, surrounded by people. He was a little unsure of himself. Things with Kathryn-Abigail were weird. Well, they had never been normal, but the curse definitely hadn't helped.

"So" He shifted from foot to foot and wished Snow hadn't made him wear the tight dress shoes. They pinched his toes. "Where's Frederick?" That seemed like a safe subject, sort of. Kathryn smiled and that was how he knew she loved him. Her eyes flashed and her face lit up. She loved Frederick the same way he loved Snow, truly and completely.

"He prefers Jim and he's taking a shift over in the cafeteria with the kids. Only until his teaching partner takes over. Then I'm stealing him away for a dance or two."

David blinked, "Cafeteria?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Where do you think all the children are? This would bore them to tears."

Yes. David was bored and he was an adult. He tugged at the bowtie that he'd struggled for an hour to tie.

"They're all eating pizza and playing games while we all" She scoffed "pick up where we left off."

She didn't seem happy with that. David didn't know what to say. What did you say to your cursed ex-wife? "Uh."

She lifted her chin, in her heels his height advantage was almost nothing. "I knew James, you know. Royal children have a limited social circle. He would be rubbing his hands together, eager to throw his weight around and take power. How George ever thought he could pass you off as him is a mystery. You've always been a better person than James was." She grinned, "But he was a much better dancer."

Snow, a vision in white, floated over to them and took his arm. "Well, I love dancing with you, Charming." She nodded her head, "Princess Abigail."

Kathryn smiled, "Snow, how nice to see you and please, call me Kathryn. I was telling David about how he gave himself away when dancing. I danced with James enough times to know the difference. David had two left feet and zero hands on my rear so I knew something was going on."

Snow laughed what he called her "polite princess laugh" and kissed his cheek. He didn't find it that funny. Had James been that bad? He would never know. They had been identical twins, born of the same womb, and he didn't know anything about his brother. He felt a small twist of guilt in his gut. He would never know. All he had were stories, slanted one way or the other.

"Well, I for one" Snow smiled at him. "am very glad that I'm with David and not James. He is my True Love. Speaking of, where is Frederick tonight?

Okay, so there might still be a little tension between the two women. "Its Jim, actually, and he is around here somewhere. The better question is why is he here?"

He followed Kathryn's eyeline and every muscle in his body went rigid. A cold rush of fear went up and down his spine. George, complete in his own tuxedo, was standing with a group of men. David recognized them as his loyal knights and vassals. They were all standing under his banner.

"If my father had really married me into that brood." Kathryn pulled her wrap tighter around her shoulders, "I was going to flee. I wasn't the only one either. He had several" Her eyes darted to Snow then back to George again. "betrothals and marriage alliances fall through. I was one of many women that George and James coveted."

George was scum and wanted for murder. David was a deputy and it was his duty to bring the bastard to justice. He took a step but stopped short. Snow had a death grip on his arm.

"Not tonight, Charming. There are too many people around. Tonight is too important."

He knew tonight was important, but George had killed a man. He ground his molars together and tried to keep a neutral face, for Snow's sake.

Kathryn scowled, "She's right, David. You have to let him be." Her brows furrowed, "That bastard."

David had never heard her curse. It didn't fit with the image of her that lived in his head. The three of them stood quietly for the moment. They watched the dancers twirl around. He recognized the dance and smirked. He'd danced it with both of the women he was standing with.

"Oh, they are a cute couple." Kathryn changed the subject and her tone. Her voice was once again light and cheerful as if nothing had happened at all. If he didn't know any better, he would have fallen for her act again. She nodded towards Aurora and Mulan. They were still together on the dance floor. The women were completely oblivious to the fact that the music had was had come to an end. They were completely caught up in each other.

David tilted his head to the side. They way they touched and looked at each other looked like more than friends. It looked like they were in love. Aurora's True Love had been Phillip and he was gone. Right?

"And Mulan's suit." Kathryn let out a little sigh, "She is making men jealous and women question their sexuality." She fanned her face to drive home her point. Hollywood had missed a real talent. Kathryn's acting was phenomenal.

"Kathryn!" Snow was scandalized, "What would Frederick say?"

"Jim" Kathryn ground out between her teeth, her smile was polite but her tone sharp. "Has already said that it is a damn shame that she is taken. I agree. She is gorgeous, honorable and has that strong and silent mystery going for her. Aurora is a lucky woman."

If he'd been drinking something he would have spewed it out. What?! Was this not an act? He wasn't judging them, but he had never expected to hear that come out of her mouth. Had he ever known Kathryn and or Abigail at all?

"Oh" Snow was speechless. So was he.

"Announcing"

Oh thank God, saved by the bell, well technically the dwarf. Grumpy's voice boomed across the room and not a second too soon.

"Her Royal Highness and our Savior Princess Emma"

David's heart stopped in his chest. His stomach flipped and he felt tears well up in his eyes. Snow's grip on his arm tightened to the point of painful, but he didn't mind. He knew without looking that she was fighting tears too.

"And her escort Prince Henry."

The crowd parted and his breath stopped for a second. Beside him, he felt Snow wobble like her knees went weak.

The whole gym was applauding. It was like thunder, it drowned out everything else, even the music.

He carried a picture of his daughter in his mind. She was a tiny little bundle in his arms. That image faded in the light of this new one. His little girl was all grown up and she didn't look like a princess, she looked like a queen. She was draped in gold and glowed like the sun. Her dress wasn't like anything he'd ever seen. Her hair fell over one shoulder in a waterfall of beautiful curls. He wished, more than anything, that his mother was here to see this.

Henry, a chip off of the Charming block, stood beside his mother. He held his head up high and stood with the perfect princely posture that David had never been able to master. He wore a smart suit with a tie that perfectly matched Emma's dress. He was grinning, eyes wide, a boy at his first ball.

"Oh look at our little girl." Snow pressed her palm over her mouth, trying to hold in sobs or screams. She was shaking, overwhelmed. So was he.

Emma wasn't wearing a traditional dress, not like Snow would have picked out, but it was amazing. It was modern, strong and beautiful. It was Emma.

Emma worked her way across the room. She was taller in heels and strutted with confidence and a smooth grace that he'd never associated with her. She walked like her mother, proud and determined, in command of the room. She owned the ballroom, every eye was on her.

"Hi Grandpa, Grandma!" Henry spoke first, he was bouncing in his dress shoes. "Hi Mrs. No-I mean Princ-Uh"

Kathryn dipped into a small curtsy, "Hello Henry, you look very handsome. You can call me Kathryn if you'd like."

Henry grinned and did an almost- correct bow.

Kathryn looked up and down, taking in Emma's dress. "DeVille?"

Emma nodded, and looked around, "Everyone looks good, fancy."

Snow's smile was wider than he'd ever seen it. "Oh, you two look amazing! Our whole family is finally here together. Our first family Ball!"

Emma didn't look exactly comfortable or enthused.

"I saw Fire Chief Hill in uniform, next year you won't catch me in a dress." She smiled, her dimples popped out and her eyes shone with humor and happiness. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, "And you could ditch the monkey suit."

"Or you both could wear suits like me and Mulan!" Henry added cheerfully.

David laughed, the family optimism and possibly manners had obviously skipped a generation.

The music started again, and David chuckled, "Come on, Henry, we have two beautiful women to dance with." It was a simple waltz, easy enough for a couple of beginners and a dance floor disaster like him.

He put his hand on Henry's shoulder, "Just follow my lead and we'll be the envy of everyone on the dance floor."

Kathryn chuckled, "Hopefully Henry didn't inherit your two left feet, David."

Henry and Emma laughed and even Snow chuckled a little. David grinned and looked at Henry. "And this is why you should never let women outnumber you, Henry."

The Ball was weird and highly political. It wasn't traditional, but it wasn't a simple school dance either. It was something new. Balls would never be his favorite thing in the world, but this one wasn't too bad. He had his love, his daughter and even a grandson. He had friends and a job that he loved. They had built a home in Storybrooke.

He extended his hand to his daughter, his bright and beautiful Emma. "May I have this dance?"

His heart fluttered a little bit when she smiled and nodded. He had missed so many moments with his little girl, but this, this moment was theirs and nothing could take it away. Forget the politics, forget the factions, forget the backstories and curses. He was dancing with his daughter at her first ball. Tonight David Nolan was happy and he was going to have fun.