The fear of losing her
EmmaAthena2013 asked for a oneshot of Graham adopting a little Emma. Emma gets lost in a crowd at Granny's. Graham freaks out trying to find her and his wolf- who lives with them- comforts Emma until Graham finds them.
"Emma, Emma!" Graham called out, shoving his way through the crowds until he got out of Granny's. Emma had been by his side one moment and then gone the next. She must have slipped out to try and find the bathroom or something and then forgotten how to get back. Anyone could have taken her. Regina kept trying to make him give her back to the system, but he refused. But Regina had been inside Granny's, she couldn't have had anything to do with it. There was someone else that always seemed fixated with Emma- Gold. Graham stormed into his shop despite the closed sign. He didn't find Gold sitting behind the desk, just his henchman known as "The Dove".
"Where's Gold?" Graham snarled. The man didn't even look up from his book.
"Do you have an appointment?" The Dove asked gruffly.
"Of course not!" Graham snapped back.
"Then no talking to Mr Gold. He's busy stock taking." The Dove answered him. Graham didn't listen, he stormed behind the counter despite The Dove's protests. He did find Gold counting out some books. He looked up to see what the commotion was about.
"Can I help you, Mr Humbert?" Gold asked him. Graham didn't even respond, he was clearly wasting his time here. He barged back out of the shop and sprinted down Main Street as fast as he could. He felt his shoulder collide with someone.
"Hey!" Jim, the P.E. teacher at the school called angrily. But Graham didn't care who he hit right now, he had to find that little girl. She was so small; there was no telling what could have happened to her. Graham decided to check if Emma had tried to find her way home. Ignoring the burning sensation spreading across his lungs Graham ran the whole time until he got to his house. He felt a great sensation of relief flood over him. There Emma was, curled up on the doorstep with Wolfy. Graham was so glad he'd decided to let the wolf roam the woods whilst they were at Granny's that night, otherwise he wouldn't have been here when Emma returned to keep her warm. Graham unlocked the door and gently shook the wolf awake. He could see the tear stains on Emma's face. The poor little thing must have been terrified.
"I'll take it from here." He gently whispered to the wolf- who would definitely be getting steak tomorrow for dinner. Graham carefully carried the little girl up to her bedroom and managed to get her into her pyjamas and under the covers without waking her. Graham had a small chuckle to himself, Emma could sleep through World War Three. He gently kissed her forehead.
"Never do that to me again." He whispered. "I love you far too much. Goodnight my little angel." Graham then tiptoed out of the room (remembering to leave the light on, Emma was scared of the dark) and down the hall to his own room.