Bonding
A guest asked for a oneshot of Charming asking Emma why she started calling them mom and dad and then telling her how it makes him feel.
It just came so naturally to her now, Charming had noticed. There was no awkwardness, no being unsure. She just came out with it- mom and dad.
"Can you pass the stapler dad?" She asked, not looking up from her pile of paperwork. He smiled, getting up with the stapler in hand and placing it on her desk. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." He didn't move after answering. He just watched her, thinking. Emma noticed pretty quickly that her dad hadn't moved. She looked up from her work.
"Need something?" She asked him. Charming shook his head.
"No, it's just nice to see." He said. Emma raised an eyebrow, not understanding. "You call us mom and dad so easily now. It doesn't seem to bother you. We thought we might never get the chance." Emma blushed, still not quite used to all the emotion. "What made you start?" He asked her. "I don't mean when we thought we were going to die. I mean when you just started in general." Emma shrugged.
"I don't know really. I guess it was after I got back from the past. I realised that I hadn't been fair to you. You love me more than life itself, and I kept you both out. I just shook myself and decided it was time to give you both a break." Charming could see the tears welling up behind Emma's eyes. He reached out and squeezed her hand.
"You have no idea how much that means." He told her. "Every time I hear you say it, my heart misses a beat. It's like I'm worried I'll lose you again. Like it's savouring hearing it for the last time. I won't lie to you Emma, I'm terrified I'll lose you again, and this time I won't be able to get you back. I know I can be a bit protective and that you don't really need me to be…but I just can't lose you again."
"It's ok, I understand." Emma assured him. "I think it's kind of sweet."
"Well, they don't call me Charming for no reason." Charming joked, ruffling her hair. He stepped back, sensing Emma was beginning to get a bit overwhelmed. But they'd reached a new level tonight, and they were getting closer all the time. He wouldn't let his fear win, and he wouldn't lose her.