Trapped

Charmersss asked for a oneshot of Emma and Charming talking about her time in jail. For the guest who asked for the link to the spoiler video here it is (assuming this works!) post/98239435933/emmafoundtallahassee-heres-a-video-of-the

Oh, and well done if you get the reference in this chapter! ;)

"Emma!" Charming laughed. "Stop it!"

"Stop what?" Emma asked innocently. "I didn't do anything." Charming rolled his eyes playfully. It was one of the slower days at the station, and the pair tended to get pretty silly when they were bored.

"So the paper aeroplanes just made themselves and launched themselves at me?" He asked. Emma grinned cheekily.

"Maybe?" She answered. Charming chuckled. There was nobody in the cell at the station today. He saw the perfect way to get his revenge.

"Well, seeing as you're clearly bored why don't you help me check for mice in the cell." He said, getting up and grabbing the keys.

"Mice?" Emma asked. "Why would there be mice in there?"

"Because it's getting colder and they need a place to say. Come on, it does no harm to check." He told her. Emma sighed, reluctantly getting up to help him check for his non-existent mice. Charming held back his grin as he opened the door and let Emma in first. As soon as she was in he shut the door on her and locked it again. "There! Can't throw paper aeroplanes from in there can you? I'll let you out when you promise to behave…"

"Dad this isn't funny." Emma said. Charming looked at her. Was she panicking? "Let me out, now." Charming could see Emma wasn't just messing with him. She was shaking. He instantly opened the cell door again, and Emma practically sprinted out of it back to her desk.

"Emma…I'm sorry." He said. "I didn't think you'd get upset." He said, coming over and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright." Emma said shakily. "You weren't to know…I just don't cope well being cooped up. Not after being in prison. Brings back bad memories." Emma explained. Charming felt like kicking himself. How could he be so stupid? It was like Snow hating apples. He should have just known.

"I really am sorry." He repeated. "I just wasn't thinking."

"It's ok." Emma repeated. A stony silence filled the room. Emma could tell her father really did feel terrible. "It wasn't all bad." Emma said quietly. "Just didn't like not being outside. First thing I did when I was released was go to a park and just sit there for hours…and it was pouring of rain." Charming gave a sad smile, thinking of how much he and Emma were alike. Their love for fresh air and freedom. He would have spent a lot of time with her in the meadow if things happened the way they were meant to. He squeezed her shoulder. "I got a job in the library. That's part of how I got into the bail bonds business, got my knowledge from there. It was an alright place. They served this really good chocolate and vanilla swirl." Emma said with a fond smile.

"Well, you never have to go back now, ever. You're free, Emma. Always." Emma smiled, trying to throw him off. Part of her would always feel like she never left that prison. Like she was always trapped no matter how much freedom she got.