Separation

A guest asked for a oneshot of Emma being made to go through to a kid's Ball while her parents attend the adult's one.

Morgan: I'm afraid I've wrote too many Emma being found drunk stories :S

J and Diana Prince: These too have been too closely covered.

"Don't want to go in alone." The four year old snivelled, clinging to her father's leg. "I want to stay with mommy and daddy."

"Now baby, we've been through this." Charming said gently, pulling Emma away from his leg. "It's going to be really boring at our Ball, all your friends will be at yours. Alexandria will be there, Gabriel and Dawn too. You can eat as much cake as you want angel." He tried to sway her, but still Emma's bottom lip quivered and her eyes were wet with tears threatening to spill over. As much as it pained the parents to be parted from their daughter, there was no alternative. This Ball at Duke Pedro and Lady Theresa's mansion was for them more one of "keeping up appearances." They found the couple to be self-centred and rude.

Emma was still clearly apprehensive as she trailed behind her parents, clutching onto her father's hand, as they entered the grand hall. A governess immediately swooped in taking Emma from her parents assuring them that she'd be "as right as rain" once she was playing with the other children. Snow and Charming watched as Emma was ushered away looking fairly pitiful.

"She will be alright, won't she?" Snow asked, leaning back against her husband. Charming kissed Snow's cheek reassuringly.

"Of course she will. Our Emma's a social butterfly. She's just going through a bit of a shy phase." Snow sighed, knowing that Charming was just as unsure about the whole thing as she was, but there was little they could do without jeopardising the relationship with such important traders in their kingdom.

When they heard of no fuss coming from the small separate children's Ball, Snow and Charming soon began to enjoy themselves at the proper Ball. It had been so long since they'd had a childless evening together. Snow smiled contentedly, leaning her head against her husband's chest as they waltzed together. It was then that Charming noticed something at the entrance to the Ballroom. He recognised Emma's coral pink dress immediately and saw that she was struggling against the hold of an irate looking butler. He stopped dancing at once and Snow turned to see what he was looking at. She too noticed the situation between Emma and the butler and both marched over.

"What's going on here?" Charming asked sternly.

"Nothing sire, just a defiant child who won't return to the children's Ball." The butler said grumpily without giving Emma a chance to speak.

"I think you'll find that the 'defiant child' is our daughter." Snow responded venomously. The man looked up in shock and horror which allowed Charming to easily pluck Emma from his arms. Emma then curled up tightly around her daddy, refusing to let go.

"I am so sorry your majesties. I had no idea." The butler stammered. "But unfortunately the little Princess cannot go into the main Ballroom, it is Duke Fernanda's orders. Snow and Charming just looked at each for a brief moment, knowing exactly what the other was thinking.

"Well you can pass on our goodbyes to Duke and Lady Fernanda, as where our daughter isn't welcome neither are we. Snow said simply, her and Charming turning on their heels and leaving the mansion. Emma resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at the mean old butler. Her parents had taught her well that two wrongs don't make a right. Instead she smiled pleasantly at him…fully aware that would annoy him just as much.