#charmingfamilychristmas

[justanoutlawfic]

David vs. The Unicorn

For Day 6 of @charmingfamilychristmas. :)  A reworked one shot of mine from last year, based on my own experience with opening a toy for a child I watch.

Also on AO3/FF

Christmas was just a few days away and the Charming household was abuzz with excitement. Emma was a little over a year and a half and while she still didn’t really grasp the meaning of the holiday, she enjoyed at least opening presents. As per usual their family had gone completely overboard and there were tons of gifts already under the tree, awaiting to be open come Christmas morning. Ruby had dropped by with yet another gift, with a really weird explanation for it.

 “It’s Christmas Eve Eve!” She exclaimed.

Snow gave her a Look. “Ruby. There are at least 10 presents under the tree from you and Dorothy already.”

“Yes but Emma can open it now.”

“This insane. You don’t need to go this far for her.”

“And how many gifts did you get my kid?”

Snow  blocked out the pile of gifts hidden in the closet. “That’s irrelevant.”

“Oh come on, I can’t wait 2 more days to watch her open something, please.”

David, who was sitting on the couch holding Emma on his lap, looked up. “Oh come on, babe. What’ll it hurt?”

Snow rolled her eyes. “Fine. Spoil her.”

Ruby squealed. “Great!”

 Emma tore off the paper of the large package. It was a large VTech Unicorn that lit up and talked, complete with a little doll that also lit up and spoke. Emma beamed and started pushing the buttons.

 “Well that is pretty cool,” Snow admitted.

“Every princess needs her own unicorn,” Ruby announced. “I know you were planning on getting her one in the Enchanted Forest.”

 Ruby soon left to go pick up her son and Emma was getting increasingly frustrated that her new toy was trapped in the box.

 “Not to worry little love,” David told her, putting on his best faux superhero voice. “Daddy will open it.”

“Do you want some scissors?” Snow asked.

“I’ve got this,” he told her.

 He started to open the box and it seemed simple at first, but it seemed it was a box trapped inside a box. He struggled to tear it out while Snow watched on amused, knowing better than to offer assistance. Emma was trying to press the buttons still, but it was out of reach. She began fussing by her father’s side.

 “David, really…”

“I’ve got it,” he grunted, tearing it out. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a pocket knife to cut the ties off, but it wasn’t working. Snow carefully moved their daughter back, just in case it slipped. “I’m not going to hurt the child.”

“Uh huh…”

“I’ve fought bigger monsters, I think I can handle a damn unicorn.”

“Damn,” Emma babbled.

Snow shot him a look that said “Thanks a lot”.

“Uh, no little love, don’t use Daddy’s naughty language,” he told his daughter.

 He continued for another 20 minutes, fiddling with everything. It seemed like the unicorn didn’t wish to be separated from its home in the box. Eventually, he did give in and accept Snow’s scissors, but that didn’t’ seem to help much. Finally, after another 10 minutes, he had the bloody horse with a horn out.

 “There, finally!” He placed the little princess toy on top.

“Um, babe?”

“Yes?” He looked up.

“Look around.”

 David looked around the room and realized that his daughter was gone.

 “Where’d she go?”

Snow shrugged. “I dunno. I think she got bored.”

“I just spent a half hour opening the thing.”

“She’s not yet two, her attention span isn’t that large.”

 The pair searched the house and ended up in the nursery. Emma was curled up in the pillows by her reading corner, snoozing. Snow stifled a giggle.

 “Man, not only did she get bored, you put her to sleep.”

David grumbled. “She better play with that thing every day.”

“Again baby, she’s a small child.”

He leaned down, scooping her up. “The things I do for this little girl.”

“Like there’s anything you wouldn’t.”

David grinned. “That’s very true.”

#daddy charming #daddy charming au #mama snow #mama snow au #young emma swan #baby emma swan #charming family #charming family au #12daysofcharmingchristmas #charmingfamilychristmas

[cianmars]

12 Days of Charming Family Christmas. 

Day 1: Advent Calendars.

AO3

FF

Emma had been stabbed with the sword by Gideon, light had filled Main Street, and time had stopped. David and Snow thought that they would never breathe again, they didn't even know what they were feeling, they felt nothing. It did not seem real.

They saw Emma's dead body lying on the road. Snow had just kept thinking they would have to move her, Emma hated the cold, they needed to get her somewhere warm. Emma was not dead, her heart had battled with what she had just seen, there was no reality or realm where she would watch her daughter die, or outlive her.

David's heart stopped beating. He took one shaky breath, he could hear his heart beating again:

Once.

Twice.

Then he ran towards his daughter.

Henry had reached Emma first, then David and Snow, Killian and Regina reaching her only a few seconds later. David crouched down at the same time as Henry, his wife fell upon her knees next to their daughter.

Henry shook his head in disbelief, willing her to get up, she did not.

David took hold of Emma's hand, it was cold but no more so than it had been when her heart had still beaten, she was just cold from the autumn air. She never wore gloves, he remembered, despite Snow always telling her to.

Snow's hand shook as it made its way to cup her cheek. Her eyes were shut, she might have been sleeping.

Snow's hand touched Emma's cheek at the same time that David kissed her hand and Henry kissed her forehead.

A wall of light so bright that they had to shield their eyes hit them.

When the light died they looked back at Emma. But the woman they had known had gone. She was replaced with a child, who had just turned four, draped in Emma's t-shirt. She rubbed her eyes with her fists as she woke up.

She looked up at her shocked looking parents.

"Mommy? Daddy?"

A lot had changed since the faceoff between Emma and Gideon had left them both deaged. David and Snow were now raising two toddlers, Emma and Neal being four and one and a half respectively, and both perfect mixes of their parents.

Snow had been planning on returning to teaching before their lives had completely changed, but that had been put on hold a little while, Emma's memories weren't of being raised by them, but instead having been in foster care until going to be fostered (and breaking the curse) in Storybrooke by David and Snow. In Emma's fake memories David and Snow had been married during the curse, and with baby Neal, they knew that they had something missing but didn't know they had a daughter. That had been one of the hardest things they had to do over the past couple of months, to have Emma wiped of some of the good memories they had all had together, and had made it hard for her to realise she could rely on them.

Within a month they had packed up the loft and had moved to a house Henry had helped them choose, it was not the farm they had been looking at purchasing before Emma had died and then come back, but Snow and David had both agreed that two toddlers was more than enough to be getting on with for the time being.

Another thing which had changed was for the first time ever the town was without curses, villains, or drama.

For the first time the town would be celebrating Christmas.

David and Snow had grown up with having two very different Christmases, or Yuletide celebrations as they were known, in the Enchanted Forest, but it had been one of the many things they had discussed before Emma was born, so knew how they would have celebrated it in the Enchanted Forest. But they were not in the Enchanted Forest, so they were feeling rather unprepared.

This would be the first Christmas their family had, and they wanted it to be perfect.

One evening, after Snow and David had settled their babies down in their beds, Snow and David were relaxing on the couch. The living room was lit with candles on the mantle of the fireplace, a burning fire, and the light from the television. On the screen played a romantic comedy which Snow had insisted upon her and her husband watching.

David had had other ideas, and had quickly managed to distract her from the movie, soon enough she was straddling him as they made out. One of David's hands rested upon her hip, while the other trailed up her body, brushing over various scars, ones he had kissed a hundred times over the years. Soon his hands were undoing her bra and trying to pull her sweater off as she left a love bite on his neck.

"Shit." David suddenly breathed out.

"What? What's wrong?" Snow asked alarmed that her husband was hurt, that she might have hurt him.

David threw his head back cursing at himself his hands returned to his wife's hips as he sighed. "The advent calendars."

"The advent calendars?" Snow frowned confused. Her eyes suddenly went wide. "Shit." She breathed out just how David had. "The advent calendars."

They had been out shopping in the nearest town to Storybrooke one day when Emma had spotted the advent calendars which filled part of one of the Christmas aisles. They were simple calendars, only a couple of dollars, chocolate behind each of the cardboard doors which had a picture of the dogs from the cartoon Paw Patrol printed upon it. They had smiled at it, and shown Emma the wooden advent calendars which were also on sale and explained that she could pick any candy to put in the doors, but Emma loved the cartoon and loved the much cheaper advent calendar. David and Snow had smiled and decided to get it, and the Mickey Mouse one Neal fell in love with, the next time that the kids weren't with one of them, wanting the kids to wake up with a surprise.

But the kids had always been with them.

"We forgot the calendars." David looked at his watch, the date on the watch face read the 30th of November, and it had already gone seven.

"We could…." Snow tried to think of a way to make it better. "We could get them tomorrow? We could take Em and Neal with us, make it into a trip."

David bit his lip, it was a little tender from where his wife was nibbling it mere minutes before, though he certainly did not regret that. "We told Emma that you get to eat the chocolate as soon as you wake up… She'll be disappointed… I guess we could make a day of it, tell her that it could start the next day."

Snow could see he was trying to make himself okay with that idea, but she could see the disappointment he felt in himself in his eyes, she understood because she felt it too. They wanted everything to be perfect for their first Christmas. She leant down and drew him into a long kiss. She felt him kissing her back and the rest of his body reacting to the kiss, his warm hands making their way back over her cold skin. She drew back and smiled as he made a noise of complaint. "Go." She told him, he looked confused for a half second, then he just looked surprised.

"Are you sure?" He asked, but he knew that if she said no and he stayed, he would be thinking about it all night.

"Go." She repeated firmly. "Go before the stores close, then you can come back, and I'll be here… if you bring me back one too I'll give you a reward." She started to move off of his lap but his hands went to her back and he flipped them around. She was suddenly led on her back on the couch, David leaning over her, grinning at having surprised her.

"I will see you soon." He kissed her lips. "With calendars in hand." He kissed her again. And again… and again….

David eventually managed to pull himself away from his wife and drove to the store in Storybrooke where he had last seen the calendars. He grabbed a basket on his way into the Dark Star Pharmacy and quickly walked over to the advent calendars. There were exactly three types of calendars left. He walked around the store past the groceries and down the aisles where loads of Christmas stuff was piled up. There was no sign of any more calendars, he returned to the three calendars. He looked over at Tom Clarke, Sneezy, at the counter. "You don't have any more advent calendars?"

"Just what you see there, they sold out fast, you should have gotten them earlier."

"Fuck." David muttered under his breath but clearly Tom heard him.

"I hope you aren't using that sort of language in front of my niece and nephew."

David just rolled his eyes, he had known all of the dwarfs a long time, and he always seemed to be having to gain their approval, they were very protective of Snow and the kids, kind of like shorter, magic-less, and much more masculine versions of Regina.

Tom raise his eyebrow and his eyes narrowed on David. "You didn't forget to get my niece her one, did you? She's been on about them since she saw them."

David paused for a half second. He knew that if he told Tom the truth he would never hear the end of it from his surrogate brothers-in-law. "No," he said breezily, "I forgot mine, but if I don't have one then the kids might feel bad for me, I don't want that."

"Ah." Tom nodded understandably. "You could try the store outside of town." He offered, not wanting his niece and nephew to feel bad.

David nodded his head and dashed towards the door. "Thanks Tom." He called over his shoulder, though the dwarf had been little help, as he left to drive as fast as he legally could to the other store before it shut.

David got to the store outside of Storybrooke, the next town over, in record time. He snatched up a basket as he raced in, then he raced towards the Christmas aisle, wanting to get out of the store soon so the employees could close up and go home.

The shelves had depleted since he had last been in there but he soon spotted the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse calendar his son had been besotted with. He grinned as he placed it into his basket, he was certain this was going to be easy. He glanced around looking for the Paw Patrol advent calendar, but he could not see it. He saw a calendar his wife would not mind, but he knew it wasn't her favourite. He glanced at his watch and knew he'd have to hurry. He spotted a shop assistant and hurried over to him.

"Excuse me," he said politely capturing the attention of the young man's attention, he wondered if it officially made him old to think of people in their early twenties as young, "do you have any more of the Paw Patrol calendars?"

The young man glanced up at the handsome prince, though he did not know that he was a prince particularly one from a fairy tale there was something fundamentally powerful and different about the man, he managed to tear his eyes away from David and scan the shelves. He looked back at David. "Sorry, I think we'll be getting more of them in tomorrow."

"No worries." David smiled gratefully. "I should have remembered earlier." He picked up one for himself and placed it beside Neal's in the basket. As he looked back at the shelf he saw that the advent calendar which had been behind his own was his wife's. David beamed as he picked up the calendar full of strawberry and white chocolate chocolates and placed it into his basket. He knew that Snow wasn't expecting one, but that she would love it, she was going to be so happy.

His smile faltered, the only one without an advent calendar was Emma, he would have felt bad if it was Neal he couldn't find the Mickey Mouse one for, but Neal was much younger and would have been just as happy with a different one. He could get Emma some other one, but there was nothing she loved as much as she loved that show, she kept telling David that she was going to puppies just like them who would all have special jobs like them.

He thought for a moment before coming up with an idea. He quickly took the calendars to the checkout and paid before driving back to Storybrooke.

"I need a favour." David said when Regina opened the door of her house.

"Some people start with a "Hello" or an "Excuse me."" She pointed out. "Anyway, do I look like Gold?"

David tried his hardest not to roll his eyes and only because he wanted, needed, something. "I need a favour." He repeated. "It's for Emma." He added when she looked like she was about to slam the door, he knew that Regina had a soft spot for Emma, as soon as Emma knew that Regina was her step-grandmother she started to call her 'Grandma' and was putty in Emma's hand from that moment on.

"Are you going to tell me what you need or am I going to die of old age first?"

"Snow and I found this advent calendar Emma fell in love with." He started.

"The dog one, right?" She interrupted. "Emma showed it me at the pharmacy- wait, did you not get it for her? She loved it!"

David tried not to sigh at how little Snow's weird family (or as close to a family she had) trusted him. "I know! And Snow and I were going to get it for her, but we wanted it to be a surprise so she woke up tomorrow and it was there, but there hasn't been a moment that we haven't all been together… it's been hard trying to get her to fully trust us again, that one of us or both aren't going to leave her… and then we forgot."

Regina sighed, for once not at him, but because she remembered how hard it had been to do things to surprise a toddler Henry. She waved her hand and the exact Paw Patrol calendar, which had been on Emma's mind since she saw it, appeared in David's hands.

"Thank you, Regina." David said wholeheartedly. "This will mean the world to her."

Regina nodded, but for once she gave him a genuine and sympathetic smile to go along with it. "It's okay. I know that other things get in the way… Just ask Henry to teach you how to order things online to be delivered here next time." She told him getting rid of the mood which was turning too close to feelings than either were comfortable with unless it was a moment of life and death. "And tell Snow White that not everyone needs to see what you two get up to when your children are sleeping."

He felt her eyes on his neck and remembered that Snow had been leaving her mark there before his little shopping trip. "I'll tell her to leave them in places where only she sees." He shot back, he turned around and called goodbye back over his shoulder when it looked like she was about to throw a fire ball at his head.

The next morning David smiled as he helped Emma down the stairs and into the kitchen of their new house, Snow carried Neal behind them.

"Daddy!" Emma shouted in surprise as she saw the Paw Patrol calendar stood up beside her parents' and little brother's on the kitchen table. She ran over to it with a beaming smile before she looked back at her parents who were grinning at her. "Is that one for me?"

David knew that she was still getting used to receiving things so he walked over to her and lifted her into his arms so she could see it better. "Yep. This one is just for my Emmy."

Emma grinned at him and watched as he picked it up. "Can I open it?"

"You can open door number one now." He told her over Neal shouting 'Mickey' repeatedly. "And then you can have number two tomorrow when you wake up."

Emma was helped by David to find the number one and when she opened she pulled out her first chocolate. "It's a present!" She told them happily, holding it up in the air. "Mommy, mommy, look! I have a present."

"That's very good sweetie!" Snow grinned she wasn't looking at the present but at her daughter who seemed to be overjoyed by the simple small chocolate just because it was a special shape. She also noticed how the small blonde kept glancing at the picture on the calendar with love, she hadn't stopping grinning from the moment she had seen it. "You can eat it now baby."

Emma wasted no time in doing what she had been told.

Snow leant down and kissed him, he had told her the story of trying to find the calendar the night before, as well as Regina's response to the hickey. She had then given him many more leading from his jawline down, and down, and down… He would be wearing turtleneck sweaters around Snow's family, he decided, though he certainly didn't mind.

"Can I have another now?" Emma asked making her parents break apart.

David chuckled, he had a feeling she would be asking that every morning for the next twenty four days. "Sorry, princess, you have to wait for tomorrow."

"Aww." Emma pouted before suddenly smiling again. "Can I help you find your one?"

"Of course you can." David grinned. Their life was a little mad at times, and he missed the adult version of his daughter just as much as the one sat on his lap starting to sing a song she had made up about Christmas, but he was truly happy, and so were his family, and that was all that mattered.

#charmingfamilychristmas #charming family christmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas #12 days of charming christmas #the charming family #12 days of christmas #writing challenge #the charmings #daddy charming #mama snow #Neal Nolan #Emma swan #David Nolan #Snow White #Snowing

[lilacmoon83]

Have Yourself a Charming Little Christmas

Day 2 - @charmingfamilychristmas

Onceuponatime1005 requested a one shot of David's gift from Snow is her telling him she's pregnant in a cute way. Takes place on Christmas a few years after the final battle. This one definitely qualified as the Best Christmas Present on the prompt list.

Have Yourself a Charming Little Christmas

The Best Christmas Present

Three years. Three years of peace in Storybrooke since the final battle and it had been nothing short of amazing. They had their happy beginning at last and nothing had spoiled it. No villains or curses to overcome. Just love and family. And as the holiday season rolled around again, the town was decked out impressively with Christmas decor. Always the planner, Snow was nearly finished with her Christmas shopping with a few weeks to spare. Emma hadn't even started so they made a day of it together with lunch and then shopping. After that, she picked Neal up from daycare and took her busy, talkative three-year-old home. That was when she started to feel funny. While Neal was occupied with his toys and a cartoon, Snow was unfortunately getting sick in the bathroom. She felt fine after and ruled out the flu since she had no fever. She chalked it up to the possibility lunch just didn't agree with her. That was until it happened consistently over the next few days. She had all the symptoms, but wasn't quite ready to admit it just yet. It wasn't that she was unhappy or scared. She was thrilled and knew David would be too. But both her previous pregnancies had come with looming curses and her husband almost dying both times. In the back of her mind, she didn't know if she dared to hope for a smooth pregnancy.

She found out for sure one afternoon when she was having tea with Regina and got sick. Her stepmother knew right away what was wrong and promptly poofed in an assortment of tests. She made her take all four and each one came back with the same results. Positive. She was pregnant.

"Congratulations...you're going to be a grandma again," Snow said, as they had tea to settle her stomach.

"You know I don't like that word," she reminded. Snow smirked.

"Sorry...Nana," she corrected and Regina smiled. Nana was the accepted title and what Neal already called her.

"You know, this wouldn't happen if you two could keep your hands off each other," she teased.

"We both know that's not going to happen," Snow retorted.

"So...when are you going to tell him? He's going to be walking around on air for nine months, so I'd like to know when that's going to start," Regina said with an eye roll. Snow thought about it for a moment and decided she had the perfect, fun way to tell him.

"On Christmas Eve," she said simply.

The next day, she went to the pharmacy and picked out a beautiful, silver plated collage picture frame. It even had peridot embellishments it like her ring, which made it even more perfect. The frame had a 5x7 slot on top and then three 4x6 sized places below. She bought it and took it home.

She started by putting the most recent 5x7 of she and David in the top spot. Then in the first two 4x6 spaces, she put a recent on of Emma and in the middle slot, one of Neal.

In the third blank spot, she slipped a square of card stock into the slot. On the card, there was an illustration of a pair of baby booties and the words: Coming in Summer 2018. She smiled at her handiwork and then wrapped it to put under the tree.

Christmas Eve came with a joyful gathering at their farmhouse. Food and drink was plentiful, as they enjoyed Christmas cheer with the dwarves. Marco, Archie, Granny, Rumple, Belle and Gideon came. As well as Regina, Henry, Zelena, and little Robin.

As the evening grew late, most of their company departed for their own homes and just the Charming-Mills clans remained. It had become a Christmas Eve tradition that everyone got to open one gift on Christmas Eve. Then the Mills family would go home for their own Christmas morning together, while the Charmings did the same. Then they would return for Christmas dinner and open the rest of the gifts from each other. And this Christmas Eve was no different, as everyone picked out one gift. Even Wilby, who got a new bone.

Snow had opened one from Emma, which had been a really pretty, shimmery infinity scarf. She would open David's on Christmas morning. Usually, she would have him open hers on Christmas morning too, but tonight, she made sure he was going to open one from her.

"Here...I want you to open this one now," she said. He smiled and took it from her having just helped Neal get his new toy train open.

"Okay…" he said, as he tore open the shiny paper. His smile widened, as he saw the pictures of them and their children. Then she watched his face change to awe, as he saw the last place and read the words. Sapphire met emerald and his mouth was slightly ajar.

"Really?" he asked with bated breath. She nodded happily, as he put it down and took her in his arms. He kissed her soundly and she giggled, as he damn near pulled her into his lap so he could keep kissing her. Emma picked up the frame and looked at her parents with a smile. David opened his free arm and pulled her into the group hug.

"Congratulations Mom and Dad," she gushed. Regina, Zelena, and Henry all offered them congratulations as well. David then served hot cocoa with cinnamon and eggnog. They enjoyed it together and then the Charmings saw the Mills family off for the night.

Emma said goodnight too, as she went up to her room, while they put their sleepy boy to bed and sang him to sleep.

She took his hand and they went downstairs to their bedroom. Once the door closed, he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.

"I take it you're happy?" she asked teasingly.

"Try thrilled...another baby, Snow! This is the most wonderful news we could have gotten on Christmas," he replied.

"I know…the best Christmas present ever," she gushed, as their lips met again.

"When's your first appointment?" he asked.

"A couple days after Christmas. This one will be a bit different...our first pregnancy in this world," she mentioned. He nodded.

"There are advantages to that," he agreed.

"And the best advantage is that there's no impending doom or crisis. There was a time that I wasn't sure that would ever happen for us," she said wistfully.

"But it did...we never gave up hope and our love was powerful enough to overcome anything," he replied. She hugged him tightly.

"I love you so much," she whispered.

"And I love you, my darling...eternally," he promised, as he grinned.

"I can't wait for this baby," he said.

"Me either," she replied, as their lips met again and he swept her into his arms.

"Merry Christmas Snow," he said.

"Merry Christmas Charming," she replied, as he carried her to their bed...

#12daysofcharmingchristmas #@charmingfamilychristmas #charmingfamilychristmas #Snowing #charmingfamilyfeels

[justanoutlawfic]

All I Want For Christmas: Chapt. 1

Day 1 of @charmingfamilychristmas :)

Summary: 10-year-old Emma's appendix bursts during the Christmas season. Her foster mother, Mary Margaret, calls on her best friend, David to help her through the challenging time. It'd seem despite a curse, the family's found it's way back together. That is until a certain wicked witch turned mayor gets wind and sets her sights on destroying this family.

Also on AO3/FF

Emma would rather be found outside getting dirty and playing wooden swords with her daddy. She pitched a fit any time she had to get dressed up for anything. Emma was quick to learn to crawl and walk. She had the entire kingdom wrapped around her little finger at only 4-years-old, despite not being what would be considered a typical princess. Snow and David wouldn’t have her any other way.

 Though sometimes, Snow had to get creative to get her into a dress. That was especially clear on her 8th birthday. Emma was putting up a bit of a fit over her dress, wearing a white dress with a blue ribbon around the waist.

 “Emma, it’s just one day,” Snow tried to bargain. She rarely made Emma wear a dress, normally she had suits made for her, however the one she had planned hadn’t panned through. Emma had said it was fine until the actual night of.

“No, Mommy!” She whined. “I don’t want to wear it!”

David entered the room just as Emma was dressed. None of his girls noticed his presence, so he coughed a bit. Both turned around, Emma beaming at her daddy merely being there, though Snow was grinning at how handsome he looked in his new suit.

 “Now, where could my little girls be?” David asked.

“Right here, Daddy!” Emma said.

David shook his head. “I don’t think so. My daughter is itty bitty, she’s not this big.”

“I am!” She argued. “I’m 8!”

“You are? I thought you were 2!”

She giggled, suddenly forgetting all about her dress. “Silly Daddy.”

“Well, is not-so-silly little girl ready for her party?”

 Emma nodded, running out of the room. Snow and David linked arms, following close behind her. It wasn’t long before the ball was in full swing. Regina made her way over to her step-granddaughter once she arrived.

 “GiGi!” Emma said, excitedly. Regina wasn’t too much older than Snow and didn’t feel like she was old enough to be a grandma quite yet.

“Hello lovely,” Regina said, cupping her face.

“I don’t like my dress.” She made a face.

Regina chuckled. “Of course you don’t.”

“Don’t hog my goddaughter,” Red said as she made her way over, swooping her into a big hug, showering her face with kisses.

 Snow and David watched on with a big smile. They were truly blessed over how loved their daughter was. Both sets of their parents had long passed on, but Emma didn’t lack for family. Outside Regina and Red, there were the dwarves and Granny. Even Ella and Thomas had become like surrogate aunt and uncle, their daughter, Alexandra was very close with the her. Yes, they felt very blessed.

 Suddenly, there was a chill throughout the air. Snow was going to ignore it, until she saw a cloud of green smoke. In the center of the room stood someone they hadn’t seen in quite some time.

 “Zelena,” Regina seethed.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said with a smirk. Her skin was green as the grass growing outside, her usual broom in hand.

“Leave, now!” David demanded, drawing his sword from his belt, causing Emma to curl into him. She didn’t like the scary lady. She had been fortunate enough to never meet her. Zelena had been banished after Snow and David fought to get their kingdom back.

Zelena merely let out a tsk. “Now, now, is that any way to talk to a guest?”

 She stepped closer to the royal couple. Regina went to throw a fireball at her sister, but was frozen in place. Zelena reached out to stroke Emma’s cheek, but Snow protectively stepped in front of her.

 “So innocent, so pure,” Zelena purred.

“You touch my daughter, I will end you,” Snow told her, her voice firm.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to harm a hair on her little head,” she replied, condescendingly. “I have just come to give the little one a gift.”

“We don’t want anything from you.”

“That’s too bad,” Zelena’s eyes filled with fury as she looked around at the packed ballroom. She could see the fear written all over Emma’s face as they cowered into her parents. “My gift to you is a curse, one that will make you all pay for banishing me.”

From her spot, still frozen, Regina gulped. “No. You can’t…you’ve been working with Rumple.”

“One of us had to, sis.” She smirked. “You were too weak to go through with it, but me…” She let out an evil laugh. “Well, Mother is going to be quite proud of me.”

“You won’t hurt our family or any of our kingdom for that matter,” David told her, his eyes narrowing.

“There’s not a thing you can do about it, Prince Charming,” Zelena taunted. “The curse is coming whether you like it or not. So, I’d cuddle that precious angel a little tighter, because soon, you’ll have lost that luxury.”

 David threw his sword in her direction, ready to end her, but she disappeared before it could even graze her. He and Snow looked from each other and down at the little girl in their arms. What the hell was going on?

After Zelena had left, everyone attempted to get back to the festivities to distract Emma, but the mood was definitely different. She had been tucked in bed early, but knew that Regina was still there, waiting to talk with her parents. She didn’t want to miss a word of it, so she pressed her ear to the other side of her father’s office door, listening to the conversation going on.

 “What exactly is this curse?” Snow asked Regina.

“It’s to send all of us to a faraway land, in another world. It’s a place where our lives are merely stories,” she explained.

“What does that even mean?” David asked.

“It’s hard to explain.”

“Well how do we stop it?”

“We can’t.”

“You said she was working with Rumpelstiltskin, he’s locked in our dungeon,” Snow pointed out.  “Doesn’t that mean that she can’t cast it?”

“She was his prodigy, I’m sure he’s taught her everything he knows.”

“Well, how does the curse get enacted?”

“She has to crush the heart of the one she loves the most, which may buy us some time. I’m not sure that Zelena loves anyone,” Regina replied, lowering herself into a chair. “The thing about this curse is, we wouldn’t remember who we were, we’d have new identities and all.”

“All curses can be broken,” David said. “Look at the infertility one that George placed on Snow. We were able to break it with the water from that lake.”

“This curse is a bit more complicated. We’d need a savior.”

“Well, who’s the savior?”

Regina sighed. “That I wouldn’t know.”

 Snow and David exchanged a look, lacing their fingers together.

 “We won’t let her hurt our daughter, our kingdom,” Snow said, firmly. “We’ll do what we can to stop it.”

 David nodded. He wasn’t sure how they were going to do it, but they’d figure something out, somehow. Together, they walked to the door to see Regina out. On the other side of the door, they found Emma standing there, clutching her blanket.

 Snow raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing up?” She asked.

Regina partially smiled. “I can see myself out, good evening.” She descended the staircase, ready to head back to her own castle to game plan.

 David and Snow lead their daughter back up to the nursery, tucking them into her bed once again. Snow sat on one side of Emma, David sitting on the other.

 “What have we told you about eavesdropping?” Snow asked.

“Not to do it,” Emma mumbled.

“Exactly.”

“Is that mean lady coming back?”

David sighed, wrapping an arm around her. “No, sweetie. Never again.”

“What’s a curse?”

“It’s just…it’s not something we have to worry about.”

“GiGi can’t fix it, though. She said so,” Emma pointed out. “And GiGi can fix everything.” She had always fascinated with her step-grandmother’s magic, she thought she had the answers to everything, much like she did with her parents.

“Listen,” Snow said, rubbing her back. “We’re going to fix this. We’ll always be a family.”

“Even if we ever were separated, we’ll always find each other,” David promised them, kissing the top of Emma’s head. “That’s what we do in this family.”

Snow nodded. “We love you more than anything in this world. We won’t let a thing happen to you.”

Emma gnawed on her bottom lip. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

 They gave her a soft kiss to her forehead and began to sign a lullaby.

 Blacks and bays, dapples and greys, Go to sleepy you little baby,

Way down yonder, down in the meadow, There's a poor wee little lamby. The bees and the butterflies pickin' at its eyes

 Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby. Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby, When you wake, you shall have, All the pretty little horses.

 hey didn’t have as much time as they thought they did. For just a mere two days later, Regina realized that the mirror she had once used to force her mother into Wonderland had been stolen. She scoured the kingdom for it, before she came about an old farm cottage. Inside, she found a cauldron, bubbling. Beside it was…her mother.

 “Mother,” she whispered. “How are you here?”

“That’s what I would like to know,” Cora replied, an eyebrow raised.  “I thought you banished me to Wonderland.”

“I did,” Regina looked around for a minute until she saw that all too familiar broom. She gulped after a moment. “Zelena.”

“How do you know who that is?”

“She returned years ago, Mother.” Regina couldn’t even meet her eye. She would never forgive Cora for all she had done to her over the years. To top it all off, she had ruined Zelena’s life as well, causing her to become so screwed up.

Zelena suddenly appeared in her trademark cloud of green smoke. “Well, well, well, isn’t this a lovely family reunion,” she said, smiling from Regina to Cora.

“Zelena,” Cora breathed. “You turned out so beautiful.”

“Flattery will get you zero.”

“Why are you doing this, Zelena?” Regina asked. “She’s dangerous.”

“Oh, she can’t harm me. I made sure of it.” She stepped closer to her mom, staring down at her. “You see, ever since I found out what you did to me, I had to wonder why. Didn’t you love me? How couldn’t you?”

“Of course I love you,” Cora tried to say. She was putting on a good front, but Regina was beginning to wonder if, for the first time, her mother was afraid.

“That doesn’t matter. What does…is that I do you. All children love their mommies. And since I don’t have anyone else in my life…”

 Regina caught onto just what Zelena was doing. She hated Cora and had pictured doing the very same thing many times over in her life, but had refrained. Despite how awful she was, she was still her mother.

 “Zelena, don’t!”

 Regina was once again frozen before she could do anything. Zelena picked up a box, smirking from it to Cora.

 “I found your most prized possession, Mother,” she told her. She flipped it open and removed the beating heart, the one Cora had taken out all those years ago. “Rumple told me what you once said and you were right: love is weakness.”

 The heart glowed and pulsed in her chest. She held it over the cauldron and focused on it, her lip trembling as she crushed it, causing Cora to go limp in her chair. The cauldron bubbled over and Zelena grinned over at Regina, who looked pain stricken.

 “Toodles, sis,” Zelena said, flicking her wrist and disappearing.

 There was nothing Regina could do. She stared at her mother, becoming the curse’s first victim.

 Back at the palace, Snow looked out the window and in the distance, she could see the looming green clouds taking over everything. One by one, she could see the people she once knew disappearing as it touched. She quickly ran to where Emma played with her father. David met her eyes and they had one of their silent eye conversations. He quickly grabbed hold of Emma and Snow clutched his hand. Emma held her baby blanket tightly to her chest.

 hat are you doing, Mommy?” Emma asked.

“We’re going to play a game,” Snow improvised. “We’re going to run, as fast as we can, to the carriages outside, alright?”

 Emma nodded and clung tightly to her dad’s shirt. There was no time to say “I love you” or even continue to hold hands. They had to try to outrun the curse, protect their daughter. They had failed their kingdom, they wouldn’t do the same with her.

 As they got outside, Snow hopped into the carriage, holding Emma close on her lap. David wasn’t far behind, until suddenly Zelena appeared. Snow was about to go after her, when the horse unexpectedly took off. Snow screamed and held on tight to Emma, who was now sobbing.

 “Mommy! Daddy’s over there!”

“I know, angel, I know, we’ll find them,” she shouted over the loud clomping of the horseshoes. Before she could say anything more, they were engulfed by the curse.

David watched the carriage take off, his heart hanging heavy in his chest. His girls were gone, but at least they were together. He drew his sword, pointing it towards Zelena.

  He watched as his little girl took off, drawing his sword. “Emma is with Snow, we’re going to beat this.”

“That’s what you think,” she told him. With a flick of the wrist, she sent him flying against a tree. He let out a moan on impact before falling out of consciousness.

 A green cloud of smoke over took the two, a sick smile on Zelena’s face.

Long gone was the shepherd turned prince who had to adjust to a grand castle. No more was the husband of Snow White and the father of a little girl. He was no longer the hopeful man he had been.

 In his place was David Nolan. The son of a wealthy business man, who had passed on his company to his son. David had been married to Kathryn in this universe, as far as he knew, she had died in childbirth with their daughter. He lived alone in a beach front mansion in a small town in Maine. 36 years of fake memories had replaced the real ones. He wore stuffy suits and only really smiled for business purposes

 When he woke up for the first time in Storybrooke, he was laying in his king-sized bed. He was wearing Yankees pajama pants and a white t-shirt, his hair a tangled a mess. He had just lived through a terrible nightmare, reliving the night he lost his wife and child. They had been stolen from him and there was no way of ever getting them back. Running his fingers through his hair, he let out a long sigh.

 “It was just a dream,” he muttered, before slipping back to sleep.

 In another part of town, laid the former princess, Snow White. Except in this new land, she wasn’t her, her name was Mary Margaret Blanchard. Her long curls had disappeared and she had a pixie cut. Any signs that her body had once bared a child, from the stretchmarks to the tiny bits of baby weight that never went away, had disappeared. Unlike her husband, she wasn’t living in a mansion. Instead, she slept in the small loft that hung above the orphanage that she ran with the help of a few others.

 She could hear the rain falling outside as her eyes flickered open. Nearby, she could hear Jefferson snoring. A man that she had once considered a friend, now just a fellow employee. Both had their child ripped from them in this new curse. However, unlike David, she was closer to her daughter, just not in the way she’d like.

 Mary Margaret tied her robe around her waist and headed down the stairs. The twin beds were arranged in neat rows, all the children soundly sleeping. 36 years of fake memories were on her brain. She was a woman who had lost any family she had, one who couldn’t have any children of her own. So, she had taken a job at the orphanage to help find families for the orphans. Just as Jefferson would find himself moved to Grace and Robin had a close bond with Roland, Mary Margaret found herself checking on Emma.

 The young child laid in her bed, curled up in a ball. In her arms was what she believed to be the only thing left of her parents, a baby blanket with her name on it. As far as she knew, her parents had dropped her off at the orphanage in the middle of the night, never to return. Mary Margaret had been the one to find her on the doorstep and taken her in. She was the closest thing she had to a mother.

 Emma woke up a bit when she felt someone looking down at her. She blinked a few times. “Mary Margaret? Is it morning’ time?”

“Not yet, sweetheart,” Mary Margaret whispered. “Go back to sleep. Tomorrow will be a brighter day.”

 Emma nodded and let out a yawn before drifting off to sleep. Mary Margaret frowned, wondering how no one could want such a sweet little angel.

   2 Years Later

Emma stood outside, her legs planted firmly apart with her baseball glove in hand. She looked behind Roland, to her best friend Grace, who winked at her.

 “Throw the ball,” Roland complained with a small whine.

“I’ll throw it when I’m damn good and ready.”

“I’m gonna tell Mary Margaret and Jefferson that you cursed,” he threatened.

“And I’ll tell them that it was you that stole Jefferson’s wallet last weekend,” she countered.

 Emma was honestly just bluffing. She found herself having a soft spot for Roland, along with all the older kids in the orphanage. They were all in the same spot, less likely to be adopted the older that they got. Well, Emma didn’t really have that problem. It was just that the people that wanted to adopt her, weren’t the families she wanted. She wanted one person to be her mother, it just didn’t seem to be possible.

 Roland rolled his eyes and adjusted his hold on the bat. Emma threw the ball, which he missed. Grace giggled, holding it up in the air.

 “Strike three!” She announced. “You’re out!”

“Aw man,” Roland mumbled, stomping off.

“Who’s next?” Emma asked, looking over at the other children that were lined up to bat.

Suddenly, a window above them could be heard opening, followed by Mary Margaret’s voice. “Emma! What are you doing playing out in the dirt? I told you we have that meeting today!”

“We’re kicking the boys, butts, Mary Margaret!” Emma tried to explain.

Mary Margaret shook her head, taking in the little girl’s dirty overalls and messy hair. “Come on! We’re gonna be late!”

“Five more minutes!”

 She was fixed with a look, one that made her let out a long sigh and toss her glove over to Grace.

 “Guess I’ll be back later,” she said dramatically.

“Hey, good luck,” one of the other kids called out.

“She doesn’t want to be adopted, dummy,” Grace told them, folding her arms over her chest. She knew just how Emma felt. She wanted Jefferson to adopt her, but that didn’t seem to be happening.

“I don’t know why you two are so stubborn about that.”

“Mind your own beeswax,” Emma told him, heading back into the orphanage.

 A borrowed pair of clean jeans and a quick brush through her tangled hair later, Emma was sitting in the passenger seat of Mary Margaret’s station wagon. She kept glancing from the older woman to the road.

 “I don’t want to do this,” she mumbled.

“I heard that the Spencers are very nice people,” Mary Margaret said.

“Why can’t you just adopt me?” Emma said, looking up at her with narrowed eyes.

 Mary Margaret sighed, focusing her glance on the road. She would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about it. Actually, she had done more than just “think”. She’d gone to the head of social services in their town, Sidney Glass, and done all but begged to adopt Emma. She loved her, she had been looking after her for so many years. However, Mr. Glass, was heavily influenced by the town’s mayor, Zelena Greene who hated Mary Margaret for a reason she never understood. She said that given her salary, she could never provide for Emma properly, the same excuse she gave Jefferson when he wanted to adopt Grace. They weren’t exactly flowing with cash, but they made enough. It didn’t seem to matter, though. Whatever Mayor Greene said, went.

 “I already told you, they won’t let me,” she replied after a few moments of silence. “Plus, you deserve a mother and a father.”

“So get a husband.”

Mary Margaret laughed, shaking her head. “It’s not like buying a car, ya know.”

“So you keep saying.”

 Soon, they pulled up at the Spencer’s residence. Emma took it in, sighing. She knew all about Albert Spencer and his wife, who went by the nickname of Blue. They were pretty shady in her book and she was only 10. As she got out of the car, she folded her arms over her chest.

 “Come on, the house looks nice,” Mary Margaret tried to tell her. Truth was, she had also heard of the Spencer’s reputation, but they were well liked by most of the public. Blue and Zelena seemed to get along very well, the latter of which had really been pushing this match. “Just give them a chance, Em, please. You don’t want to be an orphan forever.”

“I already told you who I want to be my mom.”

 Emma stomped up the steps of the house, while Mary Margaret let out another sigh. She followed close behind her and rang the bell. The door opened and Emma found two of the coldest people on the other side. They were smiling, but not with their eyes. She looked from them to Mary Margaret, raising an eyebrow.

 “Well,” Blue said, coolly. “Isn’t she just precious.”

“Very,” Albert agreed. “Come on in, both of you.”

 Emma had been through a few meetings that she could remember. They all went the same, for the most part. Most of the time, they didn’t realize just how old she was and she’d head back to the orphanage. Every time, Mary Margaret would promise her that she would find her a real family one day.

 This was different, though. As cold as they seemed, they were also interested. They showed them both a room they had set up for a child. It had about as much personality as they did, but Mary Margaret tried to stay optimistic for Emma’s sake.

 “What sorts of things do you like to do, Emma?” Blue asked as they settled down at the kitchen table for a snack.

“Baseball, watching T.V, I dunno,” she shrugged.

“Baseball?” Albert raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think that’s appropriate for a girl to be playing.”

“I play better than any of the stupid boys at the orphanage,” Emma mumbled.

“A proper young lady doesn’t mumble,” Blue corrected her with a stern look.

 Mary Margaret sighed. This wasn’t the family for Emma and she knew It. They just had to get through the meeting. She’d talk some sense into Sidney, even he had to see that these two were just off. There was no way she was going to send her there.

 The rest of the meeting was just awkward. Emma wasn’t saying much, outside the occasional sassy remark. Albert and Blue didn’t seem to be that interested anyway.

 “Thanks for meeting with…” Mary Margaret tried to say as they walked out, only to get the door slammed in her face.

Emma scoffed as they walked back to the car. “Can we just go back home now?”

“I’m sorry, Em. You know I’m really trying here…”

“Everyone wants the puppy, no one wants a mutt.”

“Hey,” Mary Margaret knelt in front of her, taking Emma’s chin into her hand, “You listen to me, Emma Swan, you are not a mutt. One day, you’ll have more family than you know what to do with. I promise.”

“I thought you didn’t make promises,” Emma told her, biting her lip.

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep. You’ll get a family. Here, look. I was going to wait to give this to you, but…”

 Mary Margaret reached into her glove compartment and pulled out a book. She had found it at the bookstore where a sullen Lacey French worked. She mostly ran it for her father (when she wasn’t getting drunk at the Rabbit Hole). She said the book had just come in and she couldn’t help but think it’d be perfect for Emma. She wasn’t a princessy type person, but she remembered fairytales helping her when she was young.

 “Once Upon A Time?” Emma asked, looking at the cover. “Like fairytales?”

“Yes. I want you to have it, maybe you could read it to the little kids, or yourself.” She gave her a soft smile. “Think about the classics, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, what do they all have in common?”

“That they were all stupid damsels in distress that needed a guy to save them?”

Mary Margaret shook her head. “They had hope, even in the darkest of times. All happy endings start with hope, Emma. You just have to believe.”

 Emma gave her a look. She felt like Mary Margaret had said a lot of crazy stuff over the years, this seemed to take the cake. A part of her wanted to believe, though. She held the book to her chest and shrugged.

 “Thanks, I guess.”

“You’re welcome. Now come on, I think we’ll just make lunch. Jefferson arranged for Granny’s to cater today, we’re having grilled cheese.”

 That got Emma smiling again as she climbed into the passenger seat, the book not leaving her lap.

Zelena strode up the steps of the Spencer household. She had the misfortune of knowing both George and Blue back in the Enchanted Forest. They could’ve actually been allies of her, if George wasn’t an insufferable man who preferred to work alone and if Blue had actually been up front and honest about her shadiness. Zelena didn’t have patience for fake people…or fairies. It only made sense to pair them in the curse and make them both more than willing to work with her.

 Except apparently, they didn’t want to follow her plan to adopt Emma Swan from the orphanage. It was the next phase of her plan. The girls were getting older, the only ones that actually aged within the curse. In order for her to permanently freeze the town, she needed them to lose all the hope they had inside them. That started with Emma being adopted by ghastly Spencers. Once and for all, Snow White would lose everything that mattered to her. Soon, she would wake her from the curse, allowing her to watch as her husband was miserable and mourning a woman who never existed, while her daughter was being raised by others. There would be nothing she could do and eventually she would end up in asylum.

  Albert opened the door, giving her a polite smile. “Madam Mayor, how may I assist you?”

“I heard you and your wife met Emma Swan this weekend,” she said. “Yet Sidney said you told him you weren’t interested.”

“Blue doesn’t even want children,” Albert explained. “Emma was a stretch. Plus, as I told you, I need a son, an heir.”

Zelena rolled her eyes. “Do not be so prehistoric, Albert. A girl can just as well be an heir as a boy, if you train her right. I’m sure with proper redirection, Emma would be an amazing heir. Plus, I could more than make it worth your while.”

Albert raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t usually the parents who are looking to buy the children?”

“I’m a modern woman. So, do we have a deal or not?”

He sighed, knowing that the mayor was not going to back down. “I’m sure I can talk to Blue. Last we checked though, the paperwork is complicated.”

“You leave all that to me, darling. You just convince that wifey of yours that all’s that missing in your life is a precious little girl.”

 Zelena turned around and headed back to her car, driving to the orphanage. She wasn’t completely cruel to the children, she always made sure that it had enough money. She had once been an orphan herself and though each of these children actually had cursed parents they were separated from, she didn’t want them to suffer. Well, not all of them anyway. She made her way through the crowd of little ones that were playing outside under the aide of Jefferson. He looked away from her, clearly still bitter from the last time he pleaded to adopt Grace.

 She made her way inside and found Mary Margaret in the kitchen, cooking. There was something funny to her to watch the former princess now forced to do housework. She put her hands on her hips.

 “Miss Blanchard.”

Mary Margaret looked up, offering a polite smile to the mayor. “Hello Madam Mayor. How may I help you today?”

“I just wanted to talk to you about Emma.” She saw the woman’s eyes light up. “It seems that Albert Spencer has had a change of heart. He believes he might actually want to adopt Emma.” She could see her face instantly fall at that news. “What is it? I thought the idea behind this orphanage was to find all the children homes.”

“I know that and I do want that, for all of them,” Mary Margaret tried to clarify. “It’s just…I don’t think that’s best for Emma. Not with the Spencers, I mean.”

“Albert is quite wealthy, he can provide for her plenty.”

“With all due respect, Madam Mayor,” she put down the spoon she was holding. “Money isn’t all that a child needs. They need love, stability.”

Zelena let out a sigh. “Here we go again.”

“Please, at least just consider it,” Mary Margaret pleaded. “I did the numbers. I make enough to support Emma and myself. I know it’s not a luxurious mansion or anything…”

“Not to mention you are single,” Zelena reminded her. “A child needs two parents.”

Mary Margaret let out a sigh. “Come on, wouldn’t you rather allow her with someone who actually wants her?”

“Miss Blanchard, this conversation is highly inappropriate. I do not like what you are insuating about the Spencers. How do I know that you’re not spewing this around Emma?”

“I’m not, I swear…”

“Do I need to move you to an orphanage out of town? Because I will.”

“No, no, please, I’m sorry!”

 Zelena smirked. This was the one main difference between Snow White and Mary Margaret Blanchard. Snow would’ve never allowed anyone to speak to her in such a way. Mary Margaret was a shrinking violet and didn’t want to step on toes.

“I won’t ask you again,” Mary Margaret whispered. “Please, just let me keep your job.”

“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood, Miss Blanchard. Next time, please watch your mouth. Now, I would prepare Emma for probably another visit with the Spencers.” She dipped her finger into the bowl of mashed potatoes that the care worker was making and licked it. “Needs more salt.”

 Mary Margaret let out a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair. What was she supposed to do now? There was no way she could let Emma end up with the Spencers. There had to be another way, any other way.

 The door to the kitchen burst open once again and Grace ran through. She let out another sigh. “Grace, dinner will be ready…”

“Mary Margaret, something’s wrong with Emma!”

 She instantly dropped the spoon and ran into the room with the beds. She found Emma curled up on her bed, pushing away Jefferson who was trying to figure what was wrong. Sitting next to her, she quietly shooed him away to try to get the other kids from crowding Emma. Putting a hand on her forehead, she frowned.

 “Emma, you have a fever.”

“I’m fine,” she whined, despite the look on her face.

“I don’t think you are.” She noticed Emma was clutching her stomach, more specifically the right side. “Okay, Jefferson, I need you to call an ambulance.”

Jefferson had managed to get all of the kids, barring Grace (who was clinging to his leg), out of the room. “Why?”

“I think she has appendicitis.” Mary Margaret ran her fingers through Emma’s hair. “It’s going to be okay Emma, you’re going to be okay.”

 Emma whimpered, looking up at Mary Margaret, for the first time in a long time, appearing to be afraid. The ambulance came quickly and the paramedics were rushing Emma into the ambulance. Mary Margaret started going after them, but then paused, turning back to Jefferson and Robin.

 “I…”

Robin waved her off. “Go, it’ll be fine. We can handle the kids, you take care of Emma.”

 She nodded and got into the back of the ambulance with them. She held tightly onto Emma’s hand, answering as many questions as she could as it sped down the streets to Storybrooke General. Upon arrival, Emma was taken away from her and she was left alone, standing in the middle of the waiting room, her heart beating heavily. She couldn’t stand being alone in that moment.

 She couldn’t call Robin or Jefferson. One person couldn’t handle all the kids alone. There was only one other person that came to mind.

 Digging through her pocket, she retrieved her cell phone and quickly dialed a number.

 “Mary Margaret?” David asked.

“I…I need you. One of the kids is in the hospital…I can’t do this alone.”

#charming family #charming family au #snowing #snowing au #mama snow #mama snow au #daddy charming #daddy charming au #young emma swan #baby emma swan #charmingfamilychristmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas

[justanoutlawfic]

Secret Santa

Day 12 of @charmingfamilychristmas. Also, my @charmingfamilysecretsanta gift for my giftee. Drum roll please....

@iamnotthrowingawaymyship! I hope you enjoy this, my wife. I love you. <3

Also on AO3/FF

It all started off with Emma’s idea. She had never grown up with a commercialized Christmas and was reminded of something she had done at her last group home as a teenager. They played Secret Santa, getting each other gifts. For some, it was their first Christmas present ever.

 Emma brought it up when she saw just how much the holidays stressed her parents out. She wasn’t sure what they’d say, but they were all for it. David’s Christmases had never been grand affairs growing up and under the curse, neither had Snow’s. Neal was super excited over getting to pick out someone’s present and Henry had done the gift exchange a few times with some friends, so he was all for it as well.

 On the first day of December, they drew names. Neal was surprised to get Emma’s, he had no clue what to get for her. He was only 7-years-old, but had a good grasp on what everyone else liked. Henry was a big fan of books, his mom had been really into knitting recently and his dad was an avid movie collector. Emma was a bit of a mystery. Obviously, she wasn’t into materialistic possessions. She had a nice jacket already and wasn’t really a reader nor a knitter. She liked movies, but she didn’t seem that interested in DVDs.

 Armed with the money he had saved up from his allowance over the year, he roamed Main Street. He had Henry’s cell phone to communicate with his parents if needed, but he really wanted to do it on his own. Nothing stood out to him as important and before he knew it, it was time to head home.

 That night, they were all busy decorating the tree. Snow grinned when she picked up an ornament, showing it to Neal. It had a picture of him as a baby, with the words “Baby’s First Christmas” scrawled across the top.

 “Look Nee,” she said. “We got this for you on your first Christmas.”

“You were so small,” Emma remarked with a smile.

“I think I have a similar one at my other mom’s,” Henry said. “She puts it on our tree every year.”

Neal looked over at Emma. “Do you have one?”

She paused for a moment, trying to be careful with her words. “You know I didn’t grow up with Mom and Dad, Neal. Maybe I had one at some point, but I don’t anymore.” He didn’t know all the details of the curse just yet nor Emma’s time in the foster system. It was hard to explain to a 7-year-old that she had a family for the first few years of her life but was then tossed to the side. Who knew if that family had gotten an ornament like that for her? It didn’t matter much anymore.

 Neal saw the look on Emma’s face. She didn’t have a lot of stuff from when she was younger. Snow and David had put a whole memory book together for him, but they didn’t have one for Emma. He still didn’t quite understand why they had been separated for so long, but he did know it meant she didn’t have a lot of stuff he did. The main thing she seemed to have was a baby blanket knitted by Granny, she had made one for him as well as his Christening gift.

 He remembered Gideon saying that his dad had a lot of people’s stuff from their old lives. Maybe, just maybe, he’d have Emma’s old ornament.

 After school the next day, he took a detour from the bus stop to the station where he was supposed to report. He walked into the pawn shop, carefully walking up to the counter. Rumple smiled down at him.

 “How can I help you?”

“Gideon says that you have stuff from people before the curse.”

Rumple nodded. “That’s true.”

“Do you have anything of Emma’s? Like an ornament from when she was little?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have anything like that. I have other people’s things because we were all from the same land. Your sister grew up in this realm.”

Neal frowned. “Oh.”

“What kind of ornament were you hoping to find?”

“Me and Henry have Baby’s First Christmas ornaments, with our pictures in them. Emma said maybe she had one as a little kid, I thought it’d be a good present.”

Rumple paused for a minute. “Wait right here.”

 He went into the back and returned a few moments later. He placed a memory book on the counter.

 “This belongs to Henry, he gave it to me awhile back because it has a lot of pictures of my son, Bae,” he explained. “But it also has some ones from before they found him.” He flipped through a few pages and stopped. “This isn’t your sister’s first Christmas, but it is from her first with your parents.”

 Neal peered down at the picture. Emma stood in front of the tree, in the middle of their parents. She was smiling as they looked down at her with all the love in the world. It wasn’t a baby picture by any means, but it was her first Christmas, technically.

 “How much do you want for it?”

Rumple chuckled. “Consider it my good deed for the day,” he said, handing it over to him.

 The next day, Neal tagged along to the mall with his parents while they did last minute shopping. While they picked out wrapping paper, he found an ornament that nearly matched his own, except it was purple. He bought it without his parents’ noticing and was so excited to wrap it.

 Christmas morning, the family gathered by the tree after Regina dropped Henry off. They started to exchange presents. David had gotten Henry a new book he had his eye on, Henry had gifted Snow some knitting supplies, Emma bought David the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD and Snow gave Neal a set of Marvel superhero action figures. Neal hesitantly handed Emma her gift. She smiled at the messy wrapping job and carefully opened it. Her mouth dropped open as she marveled at the ornament.

 “How did you get this picture?” She asked, tracing their faces.

“I had some help,” Neal said with a shrug. “Do you like it? I know it’s not your first Christmas, but it was your first with Mommy and Daddy.”

“Neal, I love it. This…this is one of the best presents I’ve ever gotten. Thank you, bud.” She knelt down to his height, throwing her arms around him.

#charming family secret santa #charming family #charming family au #neal nolan #neal charming #prince neal #charming babies #emma swan #iamnotthrowingawaymyship #charmingfamilychristmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas

[justanoutlawfic]

The Charmings: Angel Tree

Day 10 of @charmingfamilychristmas. =) This is an idea I got combined from a video I saw on adoption along with an angel tree gift I did this year. I feel that teenagers are often looked over in Christmas charity events, because everyone wants to buy for the little ones.

Also on AO3/FF

Mary Margaret and David knew they were a very fortunate family. While they may not have been super rich, they were still able to give their son a good life, he never wanted for everything. This became extra clear around the holidays. Neal was only 5-years-old, but knew that not every child could receive in the same ways that he did. So, he was more than happy to work with his parents to help make sure that other kids had an amazing Christmas.

 Their church worked with the town’s foster system, making sure that every child would have presents. A couple of days before Christmas, however, right when the deadline for giving gifts had been passed, Mary Margaret noticed an ornament had been put back on the tree. She frowned as she took it off.

 Emma S, 14. Pajamas (Size: Medium) and a pillow.

 She turned to her husband, who was busy trying to wrap up the other gifts. “Honey, do you know who took this one, originally?” She held it up for him to see and David studied it, before matching her frown.

“I remember Belinda taking a couple without looking and complaining that she got a teenager. I can’t believe she would put it back.”

“We have no presents for her.” Mary Margaret consulted the pile of gifts. “That’s not fair, she deserves something.”

 After talking with the head of the program, Mary Margaret found out that Emma S. was Emma Swan, she was staying in a group home for teen girls. It broke Mary Margaret’s heart that all she wanted for Christmas was a new pair of pajamas and a pillow. She didn’t even ask for anything fun. So, she decided she would take her out shopping. It was the day before Christmas Eve, but she’d brave the crowds.

 Puling up in front of the group home, she watched as a blonde teenager came walking out. She was wearing a red leather jacket and had black square glasses framing her face. She looked a little lost and confused as she climbed into the passenger seat.

 “Are you Mary Margaret?” She asked.

“I am. And you’re Emma?”

Emma nodded. “You don’t have to do this, you know. I don’t really need anything for Christmas. Maybe you should focus on giving to the little ones.”

Mary Margaret’s heart broke. This girl was willing to give up her own Christmas for someone else. “The little kids are all taken care of, I promise. I want to do something for you, come on.”

 They headed to the mall, which was overly crowded, but they made their way through the stores. At first, Emma was determined to just get the pajamas and pillow she asked for, but Mary Margaret kept persuading her to get other things. She got a few new outfits and some books as well. On their way to the food court to get some lunch, she noticed Emma stopping and staring at a charm bracelet in the window of a teen shop. She didn’t ask for it and clearly was intent on just walking, but Mary Margaret got an idea.

 “I have to pick up something for my husband,” she said when they were halfway through their burgers. “I’ll be right back.”

 Mary Margaret hated leaving Emma back at the group home. She honestly felt that they had made a real connection. She had learned that Emma had been abandoned as a baby in the woods and had been fostered until she was 3. When the parents got pregnant, they gave her up and she had spent the rest of her life bouncing around. She had long given up hoping for a home and just wanted to be emancipated.

 “Here,” Mary Margaret said, holding out a wrapped present. “You can save this one for Christmas morning.”

Emma smiled a bit, accepting it. “Thanks, Mary Margaret. All of this…it means a lot. This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

“You’re welcome.”

 Emma stayed in Mary Margaret’s head over the next few days. She thought of the foster license that she and her husband still had, from when they had been taking care of his relatives earlier that year. She thought of the spare bedroom and how Neal always asked for a big sibling (his best friend Gideon had one and he didn’t really understand how that worked). She talked it over with David, who hadn’t even met Emma yet, but knew she needed a home.

 They discussed it with a social worker, who looked over their license and realized they were good to go.

 On Christmas morning, David and Mary Margaret sat back, watching Neal play with all his new toys. They had told him during gift opening that after the holidays, he’d be having a new foster sister. He was so excited and was already planning on making her a card. As they sipped their coffee, the landline rang. That was odd, considering hardly anyone ever called them on there. David grabbed the phone and answered it. After saying hello, he smiled and put it on speaker.

 “Mary Margaret…it’s Emma.”

Mary Margaret beamed. “Hi sweetheart. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas. I opened the bracelet…thank you so much. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to. Has your social worker spoken to you?”

“Um, yeah. She has. Are you sure this is what you want? What both of you want?”

David smiled. “Emma, every child deserves a home. We think you’d be a good fit in ours.”

There was some sniffling on the other end. “You won’t be sorry, I promise.”

“We know we won’t. We can’t wait for you to be apart of our family.”

#charming family #charming family au #mama snow #mama snow au #daddy charming #daddy charming au #charmingfamilychristmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas

[lilacmoon83]

Have Yourself a Charming Little Christmas

@charmingfamilychristmas

Day 3 - Ugly Sweater Contest. The Charming-Mills clan is set to attend the Christmas party at town hall. Snow buys everyone ugly sweaters for the contest, much to Emma's chagrin.

Have Yourself a Charming Little Christmas

Ugly Sweater Contest

Emma downed the last swallow of coffee and put her cup in the sink. They were all getting ready to go to the big town Christmas bash being held at Town Hall and it was sure to be the first of its kind. There were no villains to defeat or curses to beat now. Just family and celebrating and eggnog that was sure to be spiked with some kind of alcohol; her favorite kind.

Her father was first to come out of the bedroom and her eyes widened at the virtual eyesore he happened to wearing.

"What is that?" she asked in disdain. He looked down and then smiled.

"It's my ugly sweater for the contest," he replied.

"Huh, well it's definitely living up to the name ugly sweater," she teased.

"Very funny...but it gets better," he said, as he pressed on the hem, which must have had a button hidden inside the fabric, because suddenly the sweater lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Oh God...it lights up. Why does it light up?" she complained.

"Your mother likes it," he said.

"So you have to like it too," she agreed.

"She bought you one too," he reminded.

"No thank you," Emma refuted.

"Em...there's a contest and it will make your mother happy," he pleaded.

"Making her happy is your job, not mine," Emma refused. He rolled his eyes.

"Emmy!" three-year-old Neal called, as he came running out of their parents bedroom at top speed.

"Whoa kid...this isn't the Kentucky Derby," she joked, as she caught him and lifted him into her arms.

"Oh no, she put you in one of these monstrosities too, didn't she buddy?" she asked, as she spied the sweater her brother was wearing with the giant Rudolph on it.

"Mommy says cute��" he replied.

"Mommy needs glasses," she muttered, as she put him down so he could run off his endless energy. Neal ran to his father and she watched with amusement and a bit of envy, as he scooped the toddler up with one arm like nothing and tossed him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Neal started giggling uncontrollably, as their father tickled him.

"Oh good Emma...you're here," Snow cooed, as she came out of the bedroom and Emma groaned. Her mother's sweater matched her father's and lit up too.

"Wow...you two match," she deadpanned.

"Isn't it great! I just couldn't resist. Here's your sweater, honey," Snow gushed and Emma crinkled her nose, as she held up the offending piece of clothing. It was a mish-mash of clashing colors and had some dumb looking penguins on it.

"You shouldn't have," she murmured.

"I know it's not normally your style, but I thought it would be so fun to enter the contest! And before we go, we can get a family picture!" Snow said excitedly.

"Oh yes...because this should definitely be put on camera," Emma joked. She was about to protest further and try to convince her mother there was no way in holy hell that she was wearing this thing. But then Henry arrived, running into the house excitedly.

"You got one too, Mom! Isn't this awesome?" Henry asked excitedly, as he showed her his ugly sweater. It had a huge Frosty the Snowman on it, again with clashing colors.

"Yeah...it's awesome, kid," she relented. Just as her father would do anything to make her mother happy, she would do the same for Henry. Reluctantly, she put on the sweater and snickered, as she saw the Mills sisters enter the house with little Robin, who looked adorable in her own ugly sweater with little Christmas trees. But seeing both Regina and Zelena in ugly sweaters was truly a sight. She was positive the only reason they agreed was for the kids.

"Not a word," Regina warned sternly.

"Nice matching Grinch sweaters, guys," she teased.

"I said not a word," Regina huffed.

"Let's get this over with so I can take this hideous thing off," Zelena griped.

"Okay...everyone move in for a family picture!" Snow called, as she set the digital camera on the tripod and pressed the timer, before hurrying over to their little cluster and wriggling in next to Charming, who put his arms around her waist. She looked so excited, which made him grin, of course. And that's how the picture was taken, with Snow's face plastered with a smile, David gazing down at her, like she was his whole world with Neal between them. Emma and Henry cuddled together with smiles and the Mills sisters with Robin between them, with slightly annoyed smiles. In the end, it was a picture that truly captured the very essence of their big, crazy family.

"Okay...let's get to the party. If I have to look like this, I might as well win a contest for it," Zelena complained, as they put their coats on, gathered the children, and prepared to make their grand entrance at the town Christmas party. It was sure to be a memorable one for sure...

#@charmingfamilychristmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas #charmingfamilychristmas #Snowing #Charming-Mills Clan

[justanoutlawfic]

Christmas Baby: A Lost Get Found Future Shot

For Day 5 of @charmingfamilychristmas. :)  So, one of my favorite Christmas tropes is somehow a baby being born/brought home/adopted around Christmas. I decided to tie in a request I got after I Knew I Loved You from Karen Hardy to show Henry meeting his new baby sister for the first time. This also totally isn’t a way for me to avoid writing the next chapter to this verse because it’s gonna hurt…not at all.

Also on AO3/FF

Mary sat by the tree, placing the last gift underneath. She was quite proud of herself for managing to get them all under there. As always, she and David went all out for their kids and grandson, but this Christmas was working a little different. For the first time since Emma moved out, she’d actually be spending Christmas morning in their house. She had asked her parents to put Henry’s presents under the tree from “Santa” for her and Bae. They hated that they wouldn’t be home for Christmas Eve, but they had a pretty good reason.

 The woman that was having their baby wasn’t originally due until mid-January. However, she had called Emma three days prior to inform her that she was in labor. She and Bae had to pack quickly, promising they’d be home Christmas Day. Henry had been disappointed they’d be missing all the usual pre-Christmas traditions, but was quite excited to meet his baby sister. Neal was able to keep his nephew distracted for the most part.

 Mary looked over at David, who was just finishing up the stockings. She walked over to him, plopping on the empty cushion beside him. “I almost forgot what it was like to play Santa.”

“I know, how long has it been since Neal actually believed?”

“I’m not sure. I think this may be the last year Henry does.”

David frowned. “Well, he grew up too fast.”

“Kids normally do.”

“Still, Christmas is always magical. Remember our first with Emma?”

Mary snuggled into his side. “Yeah, she was so excited. I thought I was going to cry so much during that day.”

“Now she’s married, with a family of her own.”

“We’re all a family.”

 It had taken awhile to get there, but they were. All the heartbreak and pain, both Emma and Bae being stubborn, it had all paid off. They were so incredibly happy. No marriage was perfect, but theirs was pretty damn close. It was all a parent could ask for, especially when it came to Emma. She had changed so much since the day she showed up on their doorstep and was still the same in many ways. That tough, determined girl who had walls up, hadn’t knocked them down. Rather, she had decided to let people inside of them.

 Their thoughts were interrupted by the door opening. David and Mary exchanged a look, very few people had a key to the house.

 “Who could that be?” Mary asked.

“Santa Claus?” David suggested with a shrug.

 Mary rolled her eyes and got up, cautiously heading into the foyer, David close behind. Her worry dropped and a smile fell across her face when she saw Emma standing there, holding a car seat.

 “Emma!” She rushed over to her, giving her a hug, which Emma returned with one arm. “What’s going on? I thought you two weren’t going to get back until tomorrow morning?”

“We decided we couldn’t miss being here when Henry woke up, so we drove back early.”

Baelfire walked through the door, holding their bags. “Hope you don’t mind us crashing here tonight.”

David grinned, helping him with everything. “Of course not.”

 The baby started fussing and Emma leaned down, picking her up and letting the car seat settle on the floor. She started rocking her, shushing her and cooing. David smiled, Emma was a tough sheriff, but if perps could see her with babies, they’d never take her seriously ever again. The baby settled down a bit and Emma stepped closer to her parents. They peered down into the bundle of pink blankets, where there was a tiny baby girl. She was smaller than Henry had been, her nose all scrunched up. She was wearing a white and red striped onesie, along with a Santa themed beanie.

 “Oh, Emma,” Mary breathed. “She’s adorable.”

“We kinda like her,” Emma teased with a wink.

David kissed the top of his daughter’s head. “Congratulations, guys.”

“Can I hold her?” Mary asked.

“Of course.”

 Emma slowly placed the baby into her mother’s arms. Mary gazed down at the tiny one, smiling as tears gathered in her eyes.

 “Hey there sweet girl, I’m your grandma, you are just so beautiful.” She bounced her a bit. “Yes, you are.”

“Can we finally know her name?” David asked.

Bae looked over at Emma, smiling brightly. “You tell them.”

“Well…you know we were both adopted, it’s such a big part of our lives,” Emma said. “Now our adoption journey continued with her. We wanted to name her after two people that helped us even get to where we are…so…Mom…meet Margaret Belle Gold.”

Mary’s eyes whipped up to her daughter. “Are you serious?”

Emma nodded, grinning. “We’re going to call her Maggie.”

“Oh.” The tears trickled down Mary’s face and she placed Maggie into David’s arms, throwing her arms around Emma, hugging her tightly.

Emma giggled, hugging her tighter. “Merry Christmas, Mama.”

“I don’t…I can’t even…are you sure? I mean…” She pulled back a bit, cupping Emma’s cheek.

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even have my family.” Emma shrugged. “I never thought I could be a good mom and I know I’m not perfect…but I know I learned from the best.”

The tears continued to flood down Mary’s face. “Oh, sweets.” She pulled Emma back into a big hug. Emma grinned, hugging her tighter and letting out a content sigh.

Henry woke up Christmas morning, feeling a little different than most years. He knew his parents would be back soon, but it wasn’t the same. Usually, he’d wake up and run into their room, waking them up. He didn’t even want to touch his presents from Santa until they were back, so he decided to try to go back to sleep. That was until there was suddenly someone jumping onto bed.

“Henry,” Neal sang out. “Time to wake up, Santa’s come.”

“Mommy and Daddy aren’t back yet,” Henry said. “I’m not opening presents until they get here.”

“Well, we can at least go look and try to guess, come on.”

Henry let out a dramatic sigh, which make his uncle laugh. “Alright, fine.”

 The two boys headed down the stairs and into the living room. Henry gasped when he saw the basinet he had seen his grandpa setting up the previous night in the middle of the living room. Walking closer, he saw a tiny baby laying inside. She looked up at him, staring with her big brown eyes.

 “Merry Christmas,” a familiar voice came from the doorway. Henry turned around and found his mom leaning lazily into the doorframe.

“Mommy!” Henry ran to her, hugging her tightly. She returned the hug, just as tight.

“Oh kid,” she mumbled into his hair as she brushed a kiss against his head. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too!” He looked over and saw his dad, who was grinning down at him. “Daddy!” He practically jumped into his arms.

“Hey big guy,” Bae said, pulling him onto his hip. “You wanna hold your baby sister?”

“Can I, really?”

“Of course, come on, we’ll get you all settled.”

 Bae carried him to the couch and sat him down, while Emma lifted out Maggie and settled her into his arms. Henry stared down at her with big eyes, making sure to support her head like he had been taught.

 “She’s so tiny,” he breathed.

“You were about that tiny once,” Emma said.

“No way.”

“Yes way.”

“She’s so squirmy.” Henry laughed. “Like a worm.”

“I think she’s just trying to say hello.”

Henry kissed his baby sister, which Bae was managing to get with his camera. “Hey Maggie, I’m your big brother, Henry. I promise I’m gonna be the best big brother ever.”

 Tears prickled Emma’s eyes and she felt an arm wrap around her waist. She gazed up at her baby brother, it was so weird having him taller than her. She leaned into him.

 “I remember the day you came home,” she said.

“Did you try to sell me?” Neal teased.

Emma laughed, rolling her eyes at the same time. “No, I was so excited to meet you. I was the first person you smiled at.”

“I was probably trying to laugh at you.”

“Alright, you’re ruining the sappy moment, Nee.”

“I’m just kidding.” He smiled down at her. “I was really lucky to get you for a big sister.”

“Not as lucky as I was to get you for a baby brother.” She paused. “Do you ever think what life would’ve been like? If Helen had put you with another family? Do you think we would’ve met?”

“Of course, we always find people in this family. I was always meant to be a Nolan, just like you.” Neal kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Em.”

“I love you too, little bro.”

Neal cracked a wider smile. “Little bro, kinda ironic considering I’m taller than you.”

“I told you to stop growing up, it’s not my fault you didn’t listen!”

“And it’s not my fault you’re a shrimp!”

 Mary and David were watching from the doorway. Bae was busy recording Henry being adorable with Maggie, while Emma and Neal traded insults back and forth, all in good nature. Mary laughed, snapping a picture of the scene.

 This was her family. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

#the lost get found verse #snowing #snowing au #charming family #charming family au #mama snow #mama snow au #daddy charming #daddy charming au #swan believer #swan believer au #charming babies #charming babies au #swanfire #swanfire au #charmingfamilychristmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas

[cianmars]

12 Days of Charming Family Christmas    [ X ]   

#charmingfamilychristmas #charming family christmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas #12 days of charming christmas #the charming family #12 days of christmas #writing challenge #the charmings #daddy charming #mama snow #Neal Nolan #Emma swan #David Nolan #Snow White

[cianmars]

12 Days of Charming Family Christmas

Day 2[/12] : Town Christmas Fair

AO3 FF

The town was starting to get into the Christmas spirit, the weather was getting colder, and there was talk of snow falling soon. Along Main Street people had been working tirelessly to string up different lights, some in trees and on lampposts, others hung over the road from one side of the street to the other, Regina could have used magic to help them along but she claimed it was more festive to have hard work going into it… when Snow asked her she claimed that it had absolutely nothing to do with trying to annoy Leroy who was overseeing the crew putting them up. As she stood there claiming they weren't straight constantly, Snow didn't quite believe her, plus she easily magic-ed up a fully decorated Christmas tree five minutes later which didn't help her claim.

The lights switch on was at the start of the month, it just so happened to coincide with Miner's day, it was the first time that the town had celebrated it since they were cursed, which felt like a lifetime ago, particularly to The Charmings. This time Snow wasn't being shamed by the entire town for an affair with her actual husband, and David hadn't been arrested under the mysterious disappearance of someone just yet, so it was already more successful.

David held onto Neal as they waited in the square for the lights to switch on. He looked down at Snow and Emma. Snow was crouched down with her arm wrapped around Emma's waist, Emma was stood up but leaning against her mom. David knew that Snow was being particularly attached to Emma that day, Regina had obviously noticed it too by the look she was giving them but David knew she had the reason partially wrong, she wasn't just being clingy to Emma because she missed the adult Emma but was feeling blessed that she was able to have the chance to raise little Emma (minus four years).

He suddenly came back to himself as he heard the rest of the town, who had also gathered that evening, clapping his son in his arms joined in. He looked over and saw Leroy and the rest of the dwarves exchanging coal with candles, as was traditional on Miner's day.

"Mommy! It's Grandma and Henry!" Emma pointed at the pair as they stood ready to turn the lights on, or as well as one could with mittens on.

Snow took in Emma's adorable beaming smile, despite being bundled up in a warm coat, a little beanie hat, mittens, and scarf, her cheeks and little nose were pink from the cold. She looked at them with such love it was almost unbelievable that she didn't know the past life she had lived. "Yes, sweetie, it is." She tucked and errant curl behind her ear. "We're all going to count down, and then Henry's going to press a special button, and all the lights Uncle Leroy made everyone put up, and the ones on the really big Christmas tree are going to light up and look really pretty." Somehow Emma's smile got even brighter. It was infectious.

She listened as people started to count down from five. "Mommy they're doin' it wrong."

Snow giggled. "We're doing it backwards sweetie, here I'll help you, okay? Three…"

"Three." Emma said only a tiny bit after her mother.

"Two."

"Two."

"One!" They said at the same time.

Henry pressed the button and the lights down the strip lit up, the light zipped up and down the tree as it lit up, making random ornaments come alive, reindeers started to come alive and chased each other around the fir tree, glittery smoke puff from the idyllic Santa's grotto's darted around the tree.

Emma gasped as she looked down the street at tall of the glittery lights, she looked at the tree, they were close so she was able to see the more distinct details. She gasped again and excitedly pointed at the tree. "Mommy look!' She shouted still pointing. "Look it's Santa!"

Around the tree a small Santa Clause in a flying sleigh, pulled by nine reindeer, flew from the bottom all around the tree before coming to a rest at the top near to the shining star. Despite the noise of the crowd Emma could hear the bells jingling as the sleigh flew.

"Y'know only really good kids who are getting lots of presents from Santa Clause can hear that bell."

Emma looked up and saw Henry grinning down at her. "Henry!" She grinned back at him and threw her arms around him.

Henry smiled softly at the young girl who used to be his mom, she would always kind of be his mom but it was a very weird situation, no matter what she would always be important to her. And he was clearly special to her. He was still getting used to it all. She was really short, even shorter than most four year olds, he crouched down so he could hug her properly. "Hey Ems." He greeted when she eventually pulled out of the hug. He stood up and hugged Snow. "Hey Grandma."

"Hey sweets." She looked at her grandson who was now easily towering over her. "You've gotten way too tall."

Henry chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck in the same way David usually did, he was very much like his grandfather, he was equally a Charming, Stiltskin, and a Mills.

"You turned on the lights." Emma told him proudly.

"I did." Henry told her with a grin. He had claimed that it was nepotism that he was the one who turned the Christmas lights on when his mother had first asked, but when Regina had told him that the town had taken a vote and asked for him to turn them on as he was The Author and had broken a fair few curses himself, he had accepted straight away. He smiled as his baby uncle started to say "Hen!" at him, and his grandfather pulled him into a hug.

"You did a good job up there kid, your mom would be proud, I mean she is now, but-"

"-Thanks gramps." Henry interrupted, he knew what he meant, he knew his grandparents were trying to be delicate with his feelings since Emma had changed and he appreciated it but they didn't need to anymore. It was hard still, but it was lessening, he loved Emma regardless and he was getting used to their different relationship now.

"Why do you call daddy gramps?" Emma asked him innocently.

Snow and David shared a look unsure of what to say.

Ever the hero, Henry saved them. "Because he's sooo old."

Emma paused then nodded her head in understanding. "He is."

"I'm not old!"

"It's okay, daddy, Granny's old too." Emma consoled.

David's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Snow laughed but she placed her hand on David's chest sympathetically. "It's okay, dear, I love you." She kissed him.

"Hey Emmy," Henry crouched down so he was on eye level with Emma, "when they kiss you have to go 'ewww'."

"Ewww." Emma said beaming when Henry gave her an encouraging smile.

"At least we still have Neal." David said dramatically… then sighed heavily when Neal joined his sister and nephew with making the noises that neither Emma nor Neal truly understood why they were doing it.

"I'm sure we can block them out." Snow said, she kissed him again, though that was mostly to embarrass Henry, judging by how David was kissing her, he too wanted to embarrass their grandson.

"Henry, what's that?"

Henry looked down at Emma, she still had trouble saying his name and the 'r' sounded like a 'w' but even he had to admit it was adorable, then he looked at what she was pointing at. She was looking at one of the games in the fair which had been set up. "Oh, you have to throw the basketballs into the hoops, if you can get the really hard ones you win a toy." He paused for a second looking at her face which was full of wonder as she stared at him. This was something new to her, she had never had any of this before… at least in her memories. "Hey Emmy?" He looked at her lovingly as she looked up at his request. "Shall we go and try win some things?"

"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" She bounced with every word.

Snow smiled at them, her bad thoughts were pushed to the back of her head, she knew it would always be hard for Henry but she could see that they two still loved each other. She placed her hand on Henry's back and rubbed a circle onto it. Henry looked at her and she had to refrain from pointing out how old he had gotten. Instead she smiled at him with love and she saw that he understood all the meaning behind her smile. "Let's go play some fair games guys!" She told her children and grandchild enthusiastically.

David happily handed over money to them all as they made their way through all of the fair games. They had been joined by Regina and Robin, as well as Roland and Robyn, as they walked around, the kids playing on the games, and their parents being extra competitive. David noticed that Snow was holding back a little on how competitive she was being, she instead was helping Emma with a tiny puzzle she had won in a lucky dip, it wasn't unusual for Snow to love spending time with Emma, but it wasn't like her to turn down a competition with Robin.

Regina frowned and walked over to David who was bouncing Neal who was getting tired as the evening wore on. "What's wrong with Snow? Did you say something?"

David rolled his eyes. "Despite what you think I don't go around upsetting your step-daughter." He said with quiet heat, normally she did not get to him, but he was like his wife in that he was affected by that day as they always had been. He sighed when he saw her look concerned at why he spoke like that. "Sorry, the kids don't really sleep, so neither do we." He explained, though Regina understood with having Robin and his brood become part of her family. "She's just a little attached to Emma today, don't worry, everything's fine."

Regina looked into his blue eyes, she could see he was hiding something, but that he was also telling the truth. "Let me know if I can help." She said gently.

"Thanks Regina." David said softly so that she was the only one who could hear him. He knew that she was family and therefore they both cared about each other and loved each other, deep, deep, down. They settled down at the picnic table with Snow and Emma, Neal was in David's arms, and Robyn in Regina's, and they watched Robin play the games with Roland and Henry.

Eventually they realised that it was getting late and they ate from food booths, most of them teased how Regina had to eat fair food, none of them thought that they'd see the Regina ever eating a greasy burger. Emma offered Henry a few bites of her burger, and he offered Emma a couple of bites of his burger, Emma didn't know it but this is what they would do in New York when they ate. It was a bitter sweet memory.

The rest of the evening was taken up with mooching around the fair, they played on the games and looked at the market stalls, when they came across a stall run by Ruby selling hot chocolate they decided that it would be their last port of call, they bought their hot chocolates and settled down at a picnic table once more. As they talked and drank their hot chocolates Emma fell asleep nestled between David and Snow, they all decided to call it a night as even Roland was starting to get tired, David volunteered to carry Emma but Snow insisted.

They said goodbye to Regina, Robin, Roland, and Henry, the latter who promised to visit his grandparents soon, and David made sure that his son was wrapped securely in his arms as he slept, while Snow fussed over Emma.

David could tell that she was still distracted by something, but that was a matter for private when they were at home and they could take solace in each other with no distractions, but for now they were happy. He leant down and kissed her lips. "I love you, Snow White."

Snow blinked a couple of times, she could hear the levity behind his words, she was certain that he knew why she had been even more attached to Emma that day than usual she felt a little guilty that she had been hogging her but he clearly didn't mind. "I love you, Prince Charming." She said in the exact same tone as he had said his words. "We've had a good day." She told him honestly, she wished that it could have been on another day when she could have enjoyed it even more, but there was nothing they could do about that, they had had a good day regardless. "Let's take our babies home and put them to bed."

"I have a surprise for you before we go to bed."

Snow raised her eyebrow, certain that she knew what it was, but she had guessed wrong.

#charmingfamilychristmas #charming family christmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas #12 days of charming christmas #the charming family #12 days of christmas #writing challenge #the charmings #daddy charming #mama snow #Neal Nolan #Emma swan #David Nolan #Snow White #snowing #outlaw queen #Outlaw Queen Mention #Henry mills

[justanoutlawfic]

The Charmings: The Perfect Present

Merry Christmas Eve. :) For Day 11 of @charmingfamilychristmas, based off the prompt: Buying presents for their daughter.

Also on AO3/FF

Emma didn’t want for much, she had learned at a young age to not expect things. That didn’t even begin to include holidays, it was just in general. Snow and David were constantly reminding her that it was okay to ask for help and to need things. It was a work in progress, especially when Christmas came around.

 They knew their daughter, from her likes to her dislike. That still didn’t help them very much. They had gotten her some new flannel shirts, a couple of mugs and had renewed her Netflix and Hulu subscriptions through the year. David had burned a mix CD based off artists she talked about at the station. There were a few more practical things, like pajamas and a voucher to get her oil changed at the mechanic’s (something she kept putting off).

 Even so, those didn’t seem like the “perfect” gifts. They were things she’d enjoy, there was no doubt there. However, when it came to the other members of their family, they felt they had hit the nail on the head. They had gotten Neal an indoor slide for his playroom and Henry a Harley Davidson helmet to go with the motorcycle that his moms were getting him (with the help of August, he had gotten his license). They had even picked out the perfect gifts for one another (David had booked a weekend away for the spring and Snow had managed to find something of his father’s in Rumple’s shop.)

 Emma’s big gift was the toughie. She had pretty much everything: phone, car, laptop, even her own T.V in her room. They needed the perfect present.

 “Why don’t we just get her a castle?” David suggested as they sat over cocoas in the diner. “Every girl wants a castle.”

Snow raised an eyebrow. “You are aware that we’re in Storybrooke, right?”

“I’m just out of ideas. Emma somehow always comes up with the perfect presents for us, how can we not think of one for her?”

A familiar voice came behind them. “I think I can help with that.” They turned around to find Henry standing there, holding a folder. “Don’t tell Mom, but I take a peak at her file sometimes.” He shrugged. “I just want to know more about her. Anyway, I found this. It’s the only Christmas list she ever made. I think she was 6 or 7.”

Snow smiled a bit. “Thanks Henry, but I don’t know if she’d want a dollhouse anymore.”

He chuckled, handing it to them. “Who knows? Maybe it’ll spark inspiration. It helped me decide to get her a locket.”

“A locket.” David snapped her fingers. “I didn’t even think of that.”

“No stealing my ideas. Grandpa Gold is letting me work in his shop so I can afford nice presents for my moms this year, you guys too.” He flashed them a grin. “Speaking of which, I better get going.”

 Snow and David smiled after Henry. He was a good kid, he’d do anything to make the people he loved happy. The two peered down at the piece of construction paper that he had given them. Emma’s handwriting hadn’t changed too much since she was young, it was still pretty much chicken scratch that David playfully teased her over.

 They felt their heart flutter as they read their little girl’s wishes. Sure enough, there was the locket, along with a few children’s toys that they knew she had obviously outgrown the desire for. It was a bittersweet feeling. They knew they were so lucky to have Emma back in their lives and wouldn’t trade the time they had for the world, even so, they would’ve also given anything to get to know her then. To properly spoil her with toys and such around the holidays.

 David’s eyes went to the last option. “She asked for a pony.”

“I think I asked for one too when I was about that age.”

He paused for a minute. “Well…who’s to say that we can’t get her one now?”

A slow smile spread across Snow’s face as she latched onto his arm. “Yes! That would be absolutely perfect, we live on a farm now, she’s been saying she wants to learn to ride on mine.”

“This list wasn’t a half bad idea, we’ll have to thank Henry.”

“Definitely. The question is…where are we going to get this horse?”

 It was a bit of a challenge. One of the perks of Storybrooke was that they were animal lovers. Most of the non-human creatures had found homes with someone. Finding a horse in need of a home was proving to be more trouble than they originally thought.

 That was until they got a call from Belle.

 They showed up at her and Rumple’s home that night, leaving Emma to make Christmas crafts with her brother and son. Belle lead them to her yard, where it appeared a white horse was tied to a tree. They took a step forward and Snow noticed the horn sticking out of its head. A tiny gasp escaped her lips.

 “How…?” She asked, looking over at her friend.

Belle shrugged. “It was the oddest thing. A portal opened today and it came trotting through, it was almost like fate.”

“I can’t believe this.” Snow stepped forward, gently stroking its fur.

David smiled. “This would be better than a horse. Who wouldn’t want their very own unicorn?”

“I have a few books on caring for them,” Belle added. “However, I think this would get along great with the other horses on your farm.”

“Thank you so much, Belle, really. I just hope Emma likes it.”

“I’m sure she will.”

 Come Christmas morning, they all sat under the tree unwrapping their presents. David was so touched to get his father’s pocket watch from Snow and he loved the leather journals Emma had made for him (paired with the nice pen that Henry had gifted). Snow was so excited for her trip along with the spa day gift certificate that Emma had given her. The tickets to the ballet were another great surprise from Henry.

 Emma loved all of her presents under the tree. Her parents always seemed to know just what to get her. The locket Henry had chosen was so beautiful, it clearly had come from the Enchanted Forest. It meant the world to her that he had taken the time to find out just what she wanted.

 Once all the gifts were unwrapped and Henry was helping Neal go down his new slide, Emma started to clear the wrapping. David stood up, shaking his head.

 “I think there’s one more gift,” he said.

Emma arched an eyebrow. “All the presents were opened.”

“Some gifts can’t be wrapped, look at Emma’s slide.”

“Did you guys get me a swing set?” She teased. “Because I think I’m a bit too old.”

Snow playfully rolled her eyes and tossed her a jacket and some boots to put on. “Come on.” She gave a knowing look to Henry, who nodded. He’d keep an eye on Neal.

 Emma followed her parents out onto the farm, linking arms with both of them. They reached the barn, which only confused her further. Why would they hide her present in the barn?

 David opened the doors and she walked inside. There were the usual three horses, Snow and David’s, along with the one that the latter had given Henry after the curse broke. However, right past Shadow was one with white mane and a horn. She blinked a few times, her mouth dropping.

 “Did you guys stick a horn on a horse?”

David shook his head. “Nope, that’s a real live unicorn.”

“You mean those are real?”

He chuckled. “You’ve met dragons and giants, you’re surprised unicorns exist?”

“Hey, I grew up in this realm, it’s still a shocker.” She was quiet for a moment, then whirled around. “No.”

“No?”

“You…you guys got me a unicorn.”

“He’s all yours,” Snow confirmed. “We’ll teach you how to care for him and how to ride.”

 Tears gathered in Emma’s eyes. She had made a wish for a pony about 25 years ago, never thinking it’d come true. Not only had it come to life, but it was in an even bigger way than she imagined. She threw her arms around her parents, hugging them tight.

 “Thank you,” she breathed.

“You’re welcome, Em,” David whispered in return, cradling the back of her head. “Merry Christmas.”

#charming family #snowing #mama snow #daddy charming #emma swan #snow white #david charming #david nolan #prince charming #henry mills #belle french #charmingfamilychristmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas

[justanoutlawfic]

The Charmings: A Very Disney Christmas

For day 4 of @charmingfamilychristmas. :) In honor of Walt Disney’s 116th birthday, I decided to use one of the prompts listed on the blog: A Very Disney Christmas. Loosely based on my first trip to Disney.

Also on AO3/FF

Emma woke up to someone shaking her. “Emma, Emma! Santa called” Neal was squealing. Her eyes fluttered open and she found her 4-year-old brother sitting in front of her.

She raised an eyebrow and looked over at the clock. It was 5 in the morning, on the 21st. “Neal, it’s not Christmas yet. Why would Santa be calling?”

“He says we’re getting an early present!”

She would’ve told him to go back to bed, that he was just dreaming until she saw her parents standing in the doorway, fully dressed. “Guys, what’s going on?”

“Get dressed, we’ll explain it in a bit.”

 Emma was so confused, but got out of bed and walked over to her closet. She couldn’t help but notice that a good chunk of her summer collection was gone, but chalked it up to her mother doing what she had been nagging her to do for week and put up the lighter clothes until spring. She waited for Neal and her parents to leave the room before pulling on a long sleeved black shirt and a pair of grey sweats, walking down the stairs.

 “So, as Santa told Neal,” Snow said, a twinkle in her eye. “You two are getting an early Christmas present. It’ll sort of explain why we haven’t gotten a tree yet.”

 Emma had found that odd. Every year since the curse broke, they normally got a tree the day after Thanksgiving. This year, her parents had insisted on waiting for some reason. David claimed it’d be more magical to get it on Christmas Eve.

 “We’re not spending Christmas in Storybrooke,” David continued.

That didn’t help his daughter’s confusion. “Where are we going to spend it then?”

“Open these.” He placed two wrapped packages in her and Neal’s hands.

 Together, the siblings opened them. Emma gasped at the contents on the inside. They each had gotten a pair of Mickey ears, with their names engraved on the back. It couldn’t be…no…

 Emma looked up at her parents, tilting her head. “Are you saying…”

“How would you two like to spend Christmas in Disney World?” Snow asked.

 Neal whooped and ran to his parents, hugging them both tightly. Emma stood there in shock. As a kid, she had been fascinated with Disney World. Her classmates would go occasionally and come back with all these stories. As a kid in the system, she never thought she’d go. Even when she lived in Florida, Tallahassee was a pretty far drive and she didn’t want to go by herself. By the time she got a family and broke the curse, things were always just too crazy for her to even mention it.

 “You mean it?” She whispered.

Snow nodded. “Regina, Robin, Henry, Roland and the baby are coming as well, so the entire family can come.” She walked closer, taking her hand. “Is this okay?”

“This is…this everything I ever dreamed of as a kid. I can’t…this is too much. Disney’s expensive…”

“Em, do you forget that we were royals back in our land? Money is no object and even if it was, we want to do this. We had to wait so long to be a family.” She gave her a soft smile. “It’s time we had a fun vacation.”

 Emma threw her arms around her mother, hugging her tightly. Reaching over, she managed to pull her father in for a hug as well. They cuddled her closer in their arms. If things had gone to plan and they had raised her, they probably would’ve never even known of Disney World. However, they would’ve taken Emma on amazing trips to different lands. This was one way of making up for all of the things they had missed.

 Snow, David, Regina and Robin all got a good laugh at how Emma was probably more excited than the kids at the airport. She could hardly sit still in her seat the entire flight and Henry took a bunch of pictures to use as blackmail later. He couldn’t really tease her, though. He had a better childhood than Emma’s, that was for sure, but it wasn’t as if he and Regina could really ever go on vacations under the curse. This was his first real vacation with his moms and grandparents.

 When they arrived, their resort was decked to the nines for Christmas. Emma, who typically rolled her eyes at all the fuss, was clearly on cloud nine. They went to Animal Kingdom that day and ran around everywhere. They spent the next few days hitting up all the parks and having lots of fun.

 Christmas morning, Emma woke up in her suite and could smell hot chocolate coming from the living room. Heading in, she found a tree set up with presents underneath. She raised an eyebrow.

 “I thought Disney was the present,” she said to her parents.

Snow smirked. “We still have some holidays to make up for, Em.”

 She was surprised to find all of the souvenirs she had been eyeing, but didn’t buy nor ask her parents for under the tree. She had bought them some things from the parks as well, a few Alex & Ani and Pandora bracelets for Snow, shirts and funny accessories for David. Roland, Neal and Henry were busy trying to pick out which t-shirt to wear to Magic Kingdom that day while Emma settled in between her parents, cuddling up with them.

 “Thank you guys,” she whispered. “Seriously. This…this means a lot.”

“So, you’re having fun?” David asked. “We weren’t sure how this would go over, I mean we know you’re not a little kid anymore…”

“This is seriously one of the best Christmases I’ve ever had. How can I ever repay you?”

“There’s no need.” Snow gave her a soft smile. “Just enjoy it. You deserve this, Em. You do so much for everyone, it’s time that you receive.”

#charming family #charming family au #daddy charming #daddy charming au #mama snow #mama snow au #12daysofcharmingchristmas #charmingfamilychristmas

[justanoutlawfic]

What Christmas Means To Me: A Daddy Charming Fic

For Day 9 of @charmingfamilychristmas. Inspired by this LL Bean Christmas commercial, which includes the actor that played the Baby!Charming Twins. Basically, parallels Emma and David’s childhoods. Lots of angst.

Also on AO3/FF

David

 Ruth didn’t know what she was going to do. Robert would often go on benders, but this was different. He would’ve been home by then and besides, he had promised he would give up drinking. She had believed him, she had seen the look in his eyes. He wanted to reunite their family, become a better man, the one he had been before they were forced to give James up.

 Now it was Christmas Morning and he was nowhere to be found. He had been due home days prior and she had no word from him. On top of her worry, there was the fact that he was due to bring home presents for David. They couldn’t afford to spoil him on the holiday, but there were always at least a few small things. She had thought, perhaps, Robert was going to surprise them, but she was losing hope.

 Looking around frantically, she tried to come up with some things she could quickly wrap. David still believed in Father Christmas and she wanted that to stick. She found a pair of his socks she was due to wash and one of Robert’s books. She hoped that her son wouldn’t recognize them, that she could still make Christmas magical for him.

 After quickly wrapping them in some spare sacks, she rushed out into the main room. Her heart stopped when she found David standing there in his pajamas, staring at their tiny tree, with no presents beneath it. The look upon his face was one she had never seen before. He knew they were poor, he knew better than to ask for anything. Yet, Christmas was the one time of year he got a little something, at least a small toy to play with. The disappointment mixed with hurt written all over the 5-year-old was enough to make Ruth want to cry.

“David,” she said, rushing over to him. He looked up at her, his face not changing. “Look, Father Christmas must have missed the tree!” She held up the items. “He left them in my room.”

 David stared at his mother, blinking a bit. He knew when his parents were lying to him and despite his mother’s best efforts, he knew just what was going on. Father Christmas wasn’t real. His father must have been in charge of the presents and since he was late-probably sick again-there were none that year.

 He forced a small smile on his face. His mother was trying, he would have to as well. “Thank you, Mother,” he whispered.

The smile didn’t match his eyes and the one Ruth plastered on didn’t either. “You open your presents, I’ll make us some breakfast.”

 Emma

It was her first Christmas since she had been taken out of the Smith’s. She still didn’t quite understand what had happened. By now she knew that she wasn’t their daughter, but still, why would they give her up? It was a bit too much for the 4-year-old to understand. For the past few months, she had been staying with the Johnsons. They weren’t the nicest people, not as warm as her parents had been. They didn’t read her bedtime stories and sometimes they forgot to give her food. They had even forgotten her birthday, Emma only remembered because her social worker had come by with a small card for her.

 But Christmas was different, in the 4-year-old’s mind. The house had been decorated from top to bottom, there was even a tree. Ben and Kate’s children seemed to be super excited about Santa coming, so Emma was too.

 Christmas Morning, she hopped out of the bunk bed she shared with the other foster child that was living in the house and ran down the stairs. There were tons of presents under the tree and they moved closer, trying to find ones with their names on them. However, the harder they looked, the more they realized that there were none. Emma bit her lip, walking over to Ben.

 “Where’s my presents?”

Ben laughed, bitterly. “The presents are for our real children.”

“Santa brings presents to every child,” she said, softly.

“That would be if Santa was real.” He rolled his eyes. “Your present is that you get to spend one more day in his house, despite my better judgement.”

 Emma felt tears gather in her eyes. Looking around the room, she saw pictures of her foster family’s biological children. She would never belong, she would never be a part of any family. The fact was, she was just the unwanted bonus kid.

 The lump of coal forced down everybody’s throats.

 Together

David loved his wife. They were true love and they agreed on most things, they understood each other better than anyone else in the world.

 Even so, she didn’t get what a big deal Christmas was to him. She found it sweet that he had such a big heart and wanted to make sure everyone had an amazing Christmas. He’d always adopt a few less fortunate families and spend just as much as he would on his own family. Money was no object, obviously, and he never wanted anyone to go through what he did. Even so, she still made light jokes whenever he’d get yet another gift for Emma or Neal. She spoiled them just as much as he did and she obviously meant no harm, she just didn’t get it.

 Frankly, David was glad she didn’t. His wife had been raised a princess. She didn’t know the pain that he did. While she had been a bandit and learned the harsh realities of the world, as a child, she had good Christmases. He had heard stories of lovely meals and loads of presents under the tree. She even had a few good memories from when Regina was her step-mother. He didn’t want anyone to feel how he had as a child.

 Little did he realize, one of his own had gone through similar events that he had.

 It all came to light when he ran out of places to stash Neal’s toys. He headed up to Emma’s room and opened her closet. He was shocked to find that it was stuffed to the brim with messily wrapped presents and gift bags.

 “Trying to find your Christmas present?” She teased from the doorway. David turned around, chuckling a bit. “Don’t worry, I didn’t hide yours in there. Those are all Henry’s.”

“No, I just ran out of places to hide Neal’s,” he said. “Though, now that I see your stash for Henry alone, I wonder if we’ll have any room left under the tree at all.”

Emma shrugged. “It’s a big tree. Though, Mom said the same thing.”

“She’s been teasing you too?”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “Sometimes I forget that even though she was a bandit and understands me in some ways, she doesn’t in others. Not in a bad way, I know she loves me and I love her, it’s good she can’t relate to this part.”

David arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Growing up, she had amazing holidays. Regina’s told me about the Christmases they had in that palace. Mom knows what I went through as a kid and I know it makes her go a little overboard herself, but I don’t think it sunk in.”

It slowly dawned on David. “I’m guessing your Christmases in the system weren’t exactly a royal affair.”

“I don’t remember the first few years of my life, but I think I had good ones with the Smiths. My first one after they…well, after they had their kid,” Emma frowned at the memory. “I was in a crappy foster home, they got their biological children presents, but none for the foster kids. That sort of set how things were my entire life.”

David frowned. “Oh Emma…”

“It’s okay.” She shook it off. “Really, I’m over it. I guess I try to overcompensate as a result with Henry and Neal. I know you guys and Regina go overboard anyway with them, but I still remember what it was like…to wake up Christmas morning and feel that pain. To go to school after the break and listen to everyone talk about all the amazing gifts they got, when you were lucky if you even got to eat that day.”

 David and Emma sat on the bed together, him wrapping a protective arm around her.

 “I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” he whispered. “I…I never wanted that for you.”

“Dad, it’s fine. You and Mom did what you had to, to keep me safe. I don’t blame you.”

“Still.” He shook his head. “When I was a kid, Christmases were never a grand affair. My parents did the best they could so I could feel the magic of the holiday. Then when I was 5, the year my father went missing, there weren’t any presents. He was supposed to bring them. My mom tried to make it better, she wrapped up some stuff we had around the house, but it was too late, I had seen the empty tree. I learned Father Christmas wasn’t real that year.”

“Oh, Dad,” Emma squeezed his hand, frowning.

“After that, things were pretty bad. We both tried to make it great for each other, but winters were often the worse for the farm. Mother was usually away trying to get us the best supplies. I never wanted you to be alone on Christmas.”

“You had no way of knowing. Besides, we’re together now.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“I’m sorry you did, too. Even so, the best Christmas I ever had was the one after the curse broke. The four of us, seeing your face when you saw all the gifts…it was 29 years too late, but it was amazing.”

“That was my favorite too. Mom, Henry and I celebrated the holiday together under the curse, but that was the first time we were all a family.” She let out a small, content sigh. “Maybe we should try to go a bit easier next year, remember what it’s really about. We’re together now, that’s what’s important.”

“You’re right.” He kissed her temple. “I love you, Em.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

#daddy charming #daddy charming au #charming family #charming family au #david x emma #emma x david #emma x charming #charming x emma #emma swan #david charming #david nolan #prince charming #ruth nolan #ruth charming #ruth ouat #charmingfamilychristmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas

[lilacmoon83]

Have Yourself a Charming Little Christmas

@charmingfamilychristmas

Day 4 - With the power of the Internet, Snowing is able to find something for Emma she wanted when she was a child and didn't get it, leading to a happy but emotional Christmas. 

I chose to do Snowing buying their daughter's gift, but put a different spin on it to "kill" you all with feels. Warning, this is pure mush with sprinkles on top, rainbow kisses and unicorn stickers. I may have also cried while writing it. Oops, so I apologize in advance. :)

Have Yourself a Charming Little Christmas

A Very Special Gift for Emma

It started out innocently enough and they weren't even sure they were supposed to be hearing what they heard. Emma and Henry were in the living room playing video games when Henry beat Emma by a very narrow victory.

"YES!" Bow down to the champ!" Henry cheered.

"Man...if this was the old school video games, I would have totally beat the pants off you, kid," Emma complained.

"Oh yeah? What games did you have when you were a kid?" he asked, but then instantly regretting it, nearly forgetting that she probably, in fact, didn't own any.

"Uh...well, I didn't have one per say. One of the group homes had a Super Nintendo and I rocked Super Mario back in the day," she replied.

"Sorry Mom…" he apologized.

"Nothing to be sorry about, kid. It just wasn't meant to be for me. That's why I gave you up, so you'd have your best chance. My parents did the same for me. I may not have had the ideal childhood, but everything I went through got me you and then my parents," she told him.

"So I can ask you stuff about it now?" Henry asked.

"Sure kid...it's in the past," Emma replied.

"I've always gotten what I've wanted for Christmas and I know you probably didn't have that. Was there something you wanted when you were a kid that you didn't get?" he asked curiously.

"Wow kid...right for the jugular," she joked. He winced.

"Sorry Mom...you don't have to answer," he said.

"No...it's okay. I want to," she replied, as she thought back to those times. They were still painful, but she didn't blame her parents anymore. They were put in a terrible situation with the curse and then the lies about the wardrobe. Marco may have told that lie, but she blamed Blue for letting it happen. She had a feeling that if the Blue Fairy had really wanted to, she would have found a way for both her parents to go with her through the wardrobe, but that was neither here nor there.

"Well...when I was around six, I was friends briefly with a little girl that had a My Little Pony dream castle and stable with all the My Little Ponies," she said.

"I was in love with it and for the few months we were friends, she let me play with it every time I came over. I wanted the dream castle and all the ponies so badly," she added.

"My friend even let me have a pony to keep, because she had two of that one. It was this rainbow unicorn one and I adored it. When I got moved to another foster home, it was in another city and I never saw her again," Emma said sadly.

"And the pony?" he asked. She shrugged.

"One of the other kids stole it and then ruined it so the Mom in the house threw it away. But I wrote to Santa that year and asked him for the dream castle and the ponies that went with it," she added.

"But you didn't get it," he replied sadly.

"Afraid not...but it's okay. Everything turned out great...eventually," Emma replied.

Little did either of them know, Snow and David heard the entire conversation from the doorway of their bedroom.

Later that night, they cuddled together in bed and lamented about their daughter's terrible childhood. It was definitely not the first time they had done so, but Emma was reluctant to give them too many details about her days in foster care.

"I wish we could make this better," David said, as he pressed a kiss to her hair. That's when Snow got an idea. She sat up and looked up at him.

"Maybe we can't make up for her childhood...but maybe we can give her a piece of it back," Snow said.

"How?" he asked, as he watched her jump up and grab her laptop, before scurrying back to the bed.

"We are going to use one of the greatest advantages of this world. The Internet," she said simply, as she powered it on and pulled up a search engine.

Christmas Day

Christmas dinner was eaten and almost all the presents were opened, as the Charming-Mills clan enjoyed their new things, while David and Zelena opened new toys for their little ones. Emma got lots of new things from her parents, like a new jacket, gourmet hot chocolate from Godiva, a few movies, the really good makeup she hated buying herself, and new leather gloves. She thanked them profusely and insisted they bought her too much, but secretly thrilled that she had parents now to go overboard on her.

"Oh Emma...I think we have one more for you," Snow said, giving her husband the signal, as he went and got a large wrapped box from the closet.

"You guys have spoiled me enough already, don't you think?" she asked.

"Just think of this one as something you should have gotten a long time ago," David replied, as Emma tore off the paper and looked inside the box. She gasped, as she took out vintage My Little Ponies, still in their packaging from the 1980's and then the dream castle with the stable as well. All in either new or mint condition.

"I...I don't know what to say. How did you get all this?" she asked in disbelief, feeling tears already swimming in her eyes.

"We weren't eavesdropping the a few weeks ago, but we happened to overhear your conversations with Henry," Snow explained, as tears were already falling down her cheeks.

"So your Mom got the idea to go online and see if some of this stuff still existed. And it turns out there are a lot of collectors. So we were able to get a lot of it," David said. Emma Swan was not a crier, but on that night, she literally burst into tears, as her parents took her in their arms, with her father cradling her head.

"We know it's a little late, princess. But we wanted to give you what you should have gotten when you were a kid," he said, as a few tears slipped down his cheeks.

"We wish we could have been there for you so badly, baby," Snow cried. Emma sniffed.

"I know...I love you so much Mom and Dad," she gushed.

"We love you too, princess," David said.

"So much baby," Snow agreed, as they dried their tears. And even though Emma was a bit too old to play with My Little Ponies now, she adored the gift and had the whole set proudly on display in her room, for it was the best Christmas present she could and would ever get...

#@charmingfamilychristmas #12daysofcharmingchristmas #charmingfamilychristmas #Snowing #Charming family feels #oh the feels

[lilacmoon83]

Have Yourself a Charming Little Christmas

@charmingfamilychristmas

Day 1 - Multiplying Mistletoe.  Snow notices, much to her amusement, that mistletoe keeps multiplying around the house. Takes place after the final battle. No Emma ships mentioned.

Have Yourself a Charming Little Christmas

Multiplying Mistletoe

The moment Thanksgiving ended, Snow started decorating for Christmas. For once, since the first curse broke, Storybrooke wasn't in crisis. And all the Christmas' before that during the curse, she had spent alone. So this year was extra special, for her family was finally whole and it was their son's very first. They had a version of Christmas in the Enchanted Forest called Saturnalia and it was celebrated around the same time each year, though in their Kingdom, it came without the sacrifice that was practiced in more savage Kingdoms. For Snow and David, it was a very different experience.

David used to enjoy the festivities and carnival in the nearest village where they had done their trading, but they never had much money to spend on gifts. Spending it with a mother that loved him though was enough

For Snow, it was always a lavish experience and celebration in her castle. It held some of fondest memories she had with her parents. So together, they had decided they wanted their children to know both. To have gifts and yet understand that the gifts weren't central to the celebration. That Christmas was about family and that every moment was special. That was something they wouldn't have difficulty conveying to Emma, for growing up without them had not yielded good Christmas experiences for her. And that was something Snow and David were determined to change.

So, of course, that started with an entire weekend of decorating their new farmhouse, inside and out. Decorating also meant cookies, eggnog and hot cocoa with cinnamon as well.

First, they tackled the outside of the house and Emma thought her father was a bit crazy when he brought home a truckload of lights, yard inflatables, and light up decorations.

First, he lined the driveway with light up candy canes, while she inflated the giant Snowman and put light up candles on their porch. Icicle lights twinkled from the awning over the porch and David wrapped rope lights around the large tree in the yard. She added her modern touch with a projector aimed at the house and David put lights on all the bushes.

As it started to get dark, Snow came out of the house with Neal bundled up in her arms for the big moment. Henry and Regina arrived about that time too, the latter carrying a lasagna for dinner.

"Did we miss it?" Henry asked excitedly.

"Nope, you're just in time, kid," Emma replied, as she put her arm around him, as they surveyed all the decorations.

"Well, if we have a power outage in town, we'll know why. I think all power will be going to this house," Regina joked.

"Is everyone ready?" David asked, as he plugged the final extension cord in and everything lit up. They watched Neal's little mouth open up wide in awe, as he babbled and pointed with his little finger.

"Well, no one will ever accuse you two of going overboard," Regina said sarcastically, though she had a smile on her face.

"This is awesome!" Henry called.

"Yeah...it's pretty great," Emma agreed, as she smiled at her parents.

"Let's go in and have dinner. I made a salad to go with lasagna. And Nealy and I have been baking cookies all day, haven't we sweetie," she cooed, as she kissed his little cheek.

"And then we can do the tree?" Henry asked.

"Sure thing kid, it's just waiting for us to decorate it," David replied, as they went inside. As always, they enjoyed dinner together and then the tree decorating began. Snow served Christmas cookies, the first batch of many they would enjoy, and hot cocoa. David lifted Henry up to put the star on top and Regina lamented that he'd probably be tall enough to do so on his own next year. And Snow held Neal, as she helped him put shiny ornaments on the tree. Once they were done, they lit the tree and stood to admire all their work.

"We did good," Snow mentioned.

"We did...but look up," he replied, as she noticed they were standing under some mistletoe that she didn't remember being there earlier.

"Mistletoe...well I certainly know what that means," she mused, as their lips met tenderly, again and again. And again.

"Okay you two, you can't stand under the mistletoe all night," Regina complained.

"Yeah, don't make us get the hose," Emma joked, as their lips parted and they shared a smile. Regina's comment was probably what gave her husband ideas about mistletoe.

Over the next week, she started to notice mistletoe popping up all over the place, always in places where Wilby couldn't get to it, of course. Or Neal for that matter.

Finally, the next Saturday morning, she caught her husband putting up another cluster. The ceiling fan in the living room had several bunches hanging from it. All the entryways too and a cluster above the sink in the kitchen. Now, he was putting up another on a hook above the mantel.

"So you're the reason the mistletoe keeps multiplying around here, as if I didn't know," she teased. He smirked and stepped down for the step stool, as she snaked her arms around his waist.

"I enjoy kissing you. It just seems like it should be everywhere," he replied, as she kissed him passionately.

"I happen to like it, not that I need a reason to kiss you," she said, as their lips met again.

"I'm glad you like it," he said with a coy smile. She cocked her head to the side and knew he had been up to something. She knew him better than she knew herself, after all.

"Charming...is there somewhere else I might find mistletoe?" she asked and he grinned contagiously.

"Well, since you mentioned it…" he said, as he took her hand and led her to their bedroom. Her mouth fell open, as she saw an entire bushel of it hanging from the ceiling over their bed.

"It's a good place to kiss," he mentioned and she giggled.

"Yes...yes it is," she agreed, as their lips met passionately again.

"Neal's asleep...maybe we should get started on all the kissing we need to do. That's a lot of mistletoe...and it has rules…" she purred. He grinned and shut the bedroom door, before sweeping her into his arms.

"I love mistletoe…" he said, as he carried her to bed.

#12daysofcharmingchristmas #charmingfamilychristmas #Snowing #Charming family feels #@charmingfamilychristmas

[justanoutlawfic]

All I Want For Christmas: Chapt. 2

Day 2 of @charmingfamilychristmas. :) Daddy Charming bonding, with a Christmas tree to boot. Also, some angst, because hey...it’s me!

Also on AO3/FF

David rushed into the waiting room, finding Mary Margaret slumped down in a chair, head in her hands. He sat down beside her, placing a hand on her back.

 “Hey,” he said, softly. “Where is she?”

“They rushed her off into surgery. I didn’t even get to see her before.”

“Oh Mare…”

“I just feel so awful. I didn’t even notice anything was off with her today.”

“She’s a kid, sometimes they hide what’s going on pretty well.”

“But I..I know Emma. We’re so close and now…” She sighed. “I just feel like I should’ve known.”

“What’s important is that you got her here in time.”

Mary Margaret sighed. “Thanks for coming. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

He shook his head. “No, I was just leaving work. I wanted to be here for you.”

She softly smiled. “I appreciate it.”

There was some silence for a bit. “So…is Emma the one that you’ve been close to?”

“Yeah.”

“The one Zelena won’t let you adopt?”

“The very one.”

 David suddenly realized why Mary Margaret felt so guilty. She loved all the kids in her care and wanted the best for them. It wasn’t as if she had a favorite, but she always talked about how close she felt to Emma. They didn’t talk much about kids. Mary Margaret was sensitive to the fact that he lost his own daughter and didn’t want to hurt him further. At the same time, he knew that Mary Margaret was infertile, she would never be able to get pregnant. Emma was her chance to have a family, it just sucked that Zelena say her paycheck as a means to prevent it.

 “She had an interview yesterday,” Mary Margaret continued before he could say anything else. “With another family, the Spencers.”

David made a face. “I didn’t think they’d want children. Blue isn’t exactly the maternal type. And Albert…”

“I don’t think they really want a child either. Something tells me Albert needs an heir of some kind, it’s more likely for show than anything.” A chill ran down her spine. “It sickens me, how can someone only want a child for that purpose? How can Zelena think that they’re a good fit and I’m not, simply because I’m not a millionaire?”

“You know she doesn’t care about anyone else but herself.” David pursed his lips together. “Just like Albert and Blue, everything is all about appearances and control for her.”

“I just want to know what I did to make her hate me so much.”

 David nodded. It seemed to be one of the biggest mysteries. It was clear that Zelena wasn’t his biggest fan either, however Mary Margaret was her biggest target. What could’ve caused so much hate to go into her heart?

 10 Years Ago

Regina stood in front of Snow and David, protecting them from her sister. She knew that they had their respective weapons, but nothing was more powerful than magic. Especially when it was up against such a powerful witch.

 “You need to get out of here, Zelena,” she said, coolly.

“Not without you.” Zelena stepped closer. “We’re a family.”

“You don’t know how to be one, you know this all too well.”

“Love is weakness.”

“No, it’s not. Snow has taught me that much.”

Zelena laughed, rolling her eyes. “She’s hardly family. She changed you.”

“For the better.” Regina softly smiled. “She made me realize what a family should be. Zelena, it’s not too late for you. You can become a part of all of this. But that can’t happen, not with your current plans.”

Her lip planted in a firm line. “It’ll be a cool day in the Underworld before I agree to be family with those two idiots.” She pointed to the pair behind them.

“I can’t…I can’t risk relapsing. I want to be good, I don’t want to be evil anymore. Just let me help you, Zelena. Please.”

Zelena shook her head. “I don’t want your help.” She looked behind at Snow White. “This is all your fault, you took my sister away from me.”

Snow frowned. “Zelena, I didn’t…”

“You couldn’t just leave well enough alone? You got your happy ending, why did you have to bring her down with you?” She sneered. “You’re going to pay for this, Snow White. You stole my sister from me. When I’m through with you, you won’t have any family left.”

Regina felt tears gathering in her eyes, she hadn’t wanted to do what she was about to, but she had no other choice. “I’m sorry, Zelena. I can’t let you hurt my family.”

 Raising her hands, she was able to zap Zelena back to Oz. It wouldn’t be easy for her to come back. Once and for all, the Wicked Witch was banished from Misthaven.

 Present Day

An hour later, the doctor came out to greet Mary Margaret and David. The two scrambled up and over to him.

 “Emma got through surgery just fine,” Whale explained. “She’s just resting now, if you want to see her.”

“Will she have to stay here long?” Mary Margaret asked.

“Just a couple of days, but she’ll have to be on bed rest for a couple of weeks.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, she’s going to love that.”

Whale chuckled. “She’s recovering in Room 5, feel free to go see her.”

Mary Margaret looked up at David. “Want to come with me?”

He hesitated for a moment and then smiled a bit. “Sure.”

 David had never been a big fan of hospitals. The last time he could remember being in one was the day his daughter was born. Everything had been fine at first, Kathryn was doing just fine. Then suddenly, she wasn’t. She started hemorrhaging and was rushed out of the room. The rest of that was a total blur, the next thing he knew, he was without a wife or child.

 Entering the room, he found a little girl laying in the bed. She had long blonde curls and delicate features. He realized that she was probably around the same age Leia would’ve been, 10 years old. A part of him wanted to turn around and run, but another felt drawn to her. Walking closer to the bed, he pushed some hair out of her face. She was so tiny, yet so beautiful.

 How was she still an orphan? Mary Margaret once mentioned that she had been found abandoned in the woods. He could see someone being desperate enough to do that, but how had no one amazing adopted her yet? Why was Zelena insistent on torturing her by trying to place her with the Spencers?

 Not knowing what else to do, his paternal instincts took over. There wasn’t much he remembered about his past, but one of the few things was a lullaby his mother had sang to him as a boy. He hoped that it would bring Emma some comfort, even if she wasn’t exactly a small child.

 Blacks and bays, dapples and greys, Go to sleepy you little baby,

Way down yonder, down in the meadow, There's a poor wee little lamby. The bees and the butterflies pickin' at its eyes

 Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby. Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby, When you wake, you shall have, All the pretty little horses.

Emma’s eyes were shut and yet she could see a vision in front of her. She was a lot smaller in it, curled up on her father’s lap. She was sniffling and feeling miserable and he was doing all he could to console her. Suddenly, he started singing her favorite lullaby, the one about the tiny lamb and horses, the one that always calmed her. She settled in his arms and felt as if she was in the safest place in the world.

 The vision faded just as quickly as it had arrived and while her world was back to darkness, she could still hear the lullaby being sung, in that familiar voice.

 “Daddy?” She mumbled.

David faltered, his singing coming to a halt. “Oh, um, no.” Emma’s eyes flickered open. “My name’s David, I’m a friend of Mary Margaret’s.”

“Oh.” Emma blinked, looking around the room, spotting Mary Margaret on the other side. “Mary Margaret.”

“Hey sweet girl.” She pushed her hair out of her face. “How are you feeling?”

“My stomach really hurts.”

“I know. They took out your appendix.”

“Do I need that? Is it like a lung?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “No, honey. No one needs their appendix.”

“Then why are we born with one? Seems stupid.”

 David chuckled, she was a straight shooter, that much was sure. Mary Margaret was clearly trying to come up with an excuse, when Emma interrupted her.

 “Is it snowing?” She asked, trying to peer out the window, but it hurt her stomach. She let out a hiss of pain and David rubbed her shoulder out of instinct. Mary Margaret looked out the window.

“Yes, it is.”

Emma frowned. “Grace said we’d play snow baseball when that happened.”

“Snow baseball?” David asked.

“It’s a fun game we made up last year.”

“Oh, well, when you’re feeling better, I’m sure you two will play.”

“When can I go home?”

“In a couple of days,” Mary Margaret said. “But then you’ll be on bed rest for a couple of weeks.”

“What? No!”

“Emma…”

“I am not going to be laying in bed for weeks. That’s not any fun.”

“I know it doesn’t seem that way, but we can come up with stuff to do…”

Emma folded her arms over her chest, pouting. Mary Margaret sighed, tipping her head back. She knew that was going to be a tough battle. David couldn’t help but chuckle at the two, it was almost as if they were really mother and daughter.

 “Hey, Em, I have an idea, are you hungry?” He asked.

Emma shrugged. “I didn’t get to eat dinner.”

“How about I go down to the cafeteria and get us all something to eat.”

Mary Margaret frowned. “David, you don’t have to…”

“It’s no trouble. Send me Jefferson and Robin’s numbers, I’ll let them know how Emma’s doing. You like your coffee with milk, no sugar, right?”

Her frown slowly turned to a smile. “Yeah.”

 Heading out of the room, he went down to the cafeteria and waited for the text. Once he got them, he let Robin and Jefferson know. Both men were grateful and told him to assure Mary Margaret they had everything under control. As he was trying to pick out an ice cream flavor for Emma, his phone started ringing. He saw Regina’s face fill the screen and frowned. Why would she be calling? Did she and Mallory not have a date…

 “Crap,” he mumbled to himself. He slid the green button over and held it to his ear. “Regina, I am so sorry.”

“You were supposed to be here a half hour ago,” she said, her voice annoyed.

“I know, I’m so sorry. Something came up.”

“Something more important than helping your best friend plan her wedding?”

“One of Mary Margaret’s foster kids is in the hospital.”

Regina paused and he could almost see the frown on her face. “Which one?”

“Emma Swan.”

“Oh, I’ve um…I’ve seen her around. Is she okay?”

“She’ll be fine, she’s just a fighter. Regina…do you know why no one’s adopted her?”

“How would I know?”

“You adopted Lily a couple of years ago. Did you and Mallory even look at her?”

Regina sighed. “Truth?”

“Yes.”

“We did. We were really excited about it too, but it just didn’t work out. Emma made it clear that she didn’t want us adopting her.”

“Why?”

“She said she had one person in mind, Mary Margaret. We knew it wouldn’t be right for us to adopt her when she didn’t want us to be her mothers, adopting an older child is tricky enough.”

“But Mary Margaret can’t adopt her. Sidney and Zelena won’t let her.”

“Trust me, I’ve realized that. Hopefully in time, Emma will too, before she scares away every perspective adoptive family.”

David sighed. “I’m sorry I forgot about our plans.”

“It’s fine. Stay with Mary Margaret, she needs you more than I do right now.

“Thanks, Regina.”

“Anytime, though not literally. I would like to actually plan my wedding at some point.”

David chuckled. “Noted.”

 He grabbed the coffees along with some sandwiches for him and Mary Margaret. He had the faintest memories of getting his own appendix taken out as a kid and he loved eating a ton of ice cream. He decided on chocolate for Emma, what kid didn’t like chocolate? On his way back up, he passed by the gift shop and decided to stop in.

 Once he entered the room and divvied out the food, he could see had made the right choice. Emma brightened up a bit when it was placed on her tray.

 “Thanks, David,” she said.

“No problem, kiddo.” He held up a bag. “I got you some other stuff too. I know you don’t want to be on bed rest, but maybe this’ll make it more worthwhile.”

 Reaching into the plastic shopping bag, he pulled out a miniature Christmas tree. It was one of the fake ones, with yellow and red lights strung around it along with a few ornaments. He plugged it into a free outlet and placed it on the tray next to Emma’s ice cream. Her eyes lit up with excitement.

 “Whoa,” she whispered. “You got me a present?”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it. Thank you.”

 David looked over at Mary Margaret, who was smiling at him. She hadn’t expected him to be so sweet with Emma, she had wondered if inviting him to come was a mistake, given his history. Yet, he seemed to have been taken with her right from the get-go. She just hoped he didn’t disappear from Emma’s life, she had enough disappointment in it.

Emma was surprised when David returned the next morning. He had left some point after she fell asleep the night prior, though Mary Margaret had stayed. Her foster mother was now in the hall, talking with Jefferson about the other kids. David came over to her, smiling when he saw her Christmas tree set up.

 “You set it up.”

“Uh huh. You came back.”

The surprise in her voice broke his heart. “Of course I did, I had to check on my new pal.” He settled into the chair next to her bed. “I brought you another gift, well, it’s not really anything new. I stopped by the group home and a little girl named Grace told me that you may want it.” He reached into his messenger bag and pulled out her blanket.

Emma’s eyes lit up and she went to grab it, but leaning over still hurt. He gently placed it in her arms. “Thanks, this is…this is the only thing I have of my birth parents.”

“Do you know much about them?”

Emma shook her head. “Just what everyone else does. They abandoned me in the woods when I was a baby. Mary Margaret found me and brought me to the group home.”

David smiled, he had never known that. “Really?”

“Uh huh. She was taking a walk and said I was just there.” She shrugged. “I’ve been there ever since.”

“Really?”

“Well, I had another foster family for awhile. They were going to adopt me and everything, but then the woman got pregnant, so they sent me back.”

His smile turned to a frown. “Oh, that’s…I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I know who my mom is supposed to be.” She sighed. “Even if Mary Margaret doesn’t see it.”

“She loves you, Em, you’ve got to know that. If she could adopt you, she would. It’s just…”

“There are other grown-ups who think they know what’s best for me and they say no.” She bit her lip. “It’s not fair, that they get to decide. It’s my life, why do they get a say?”

“It’s their job, kiddo. Most people in their position do it responsibly and with the child’s best chance in mind.”

“But Mayor Greene doesn’t.”

David didn’t realize he was suddenly bashing the mayor. “Well, no, I didn’t day that…”

“But she doesn’t! She thinks she knows what’s best for me, but she doesn’t. If she did, then she’d let Mary Margaret adopt me, she’d let Jefferson and Robin adopt Grace and Roland. It’s not fair. It seems like no one around here is allowed to be happy. It sucks!”

 David gave a sympathetic nod. There were times he felt the same way. It wasn’t just Mary Margaret, Robin and Jefferson not being able to adopt children who clearly needed a home. It wasn’t even that he had lost his wife and child. No one in Storybrooke really seemed completely happy, outside Zelena. Even Regina, as happy as she was with Mallory and their daughter, she still seemed to lose every time she went up against Zelena for mayor. No matter how badly people wanted a change in Storybrooke, it wasn’t happening. Things were always the same, day in and day out.

 “Not much of life is fair,” he said, wanting to offer advice. “It does suck, but that’s how it is. But maybe, you can make the most of it.”

“How?”

“I know how badly you want Mary Margaret to adopt you, just as much as she wants to. However, as you’ve said, the powers to be aren’t agreeing with that. So, maybe it’s time for Plan B.”

“Which is?”

“Maybe accepting there’s another family out there to be your forever family.”

Emma frowned. “But…Mary Margaret…she is my family.”

“I know. But right now, this is how things are.”

“I don’t want to go with Albert and Blue.”

“So, don’t go with them.” David paused for a minute, his mind swirling. He had only just met Emma, but he could offer her a lot. He had to think about it more, but maybe…maybe it was worth a shot. “I have to go to work, but think about what I said. Think about your dream family and maybe it’ll come true.”

 David hopped up and walked out of the room, leaving Emma alone with her thoughts. She traced her name on her baby blanket, chewing on her lip. She knew David was probably right. She had pushed so many people away, clinging to hope that Mary Margaret could be her mother. Yet, she had been let down so many times before. She knew better than to hold on, yet, she had.

 It wasn’t fair, yet life wasn’t fair, that was what David had said. But why couldn’t life be fair? Why couldn’t people just be happy for once?

 She had long given up asking Santa for things, but if she could ask for something, it’d be for that. For everyone in town to get exactly what they wanted.

 Mary Margaret came back in the room, smiling. “Everyone says hi, they’re glad you’re doing better and can come home tomorrow. Grace has made sure that no one touches your bed.”

“That’s good.”

“Roland made you a card, he can’t wait to show it to you.”

Emma nodded. “David left?”

“Yeah, he had to get to work.” She settled down next to her. “Oh, he brought your baby blanket?”

“He went to the group home and Grace gave it to him.”

“Well that was nice, I think you made quite the impression on him, little lady.” She winked and reached into her bag. “He also gave me this, I guess he figured you might get bored of T.V.” She pulled out the storybook she had given Emma a few days earlier. “Did you get a chance to start reading this yet?” Emma shook her head. “Mind if I read to you? It’d be like old times.”

Emma smiled. “Sure.”

 Mary Margaret flipped it open to the story of Snow White. It was clear that this version of fairytales were a much different take than Disney’s. Snow White was a badass bandit, on the run from her evil step-mother. However, the two ended up burying the hatchet. Before they could return to the palace, however, the Evil Queen’s sister, the Wicked Witch, took over and they had to find a way to fight to get the kingdom back. Along the way, Snow White stole from a carriage she believed to be her step-aunt’s, but was really a shepherd masquerading as a prince. They fell in love, for her it was the moment she saw him fighting for her. For him, it was when she tried on his mother’s engagement ring.

 They’d lose each other and yet always find their way back. Their motto seemed to be “I’ll always find you.” Eventually, they defeated the Wicked Witch and were able to start a family. She smiled when she read her name aloud.

 “Emma.” She giggled, softly. “Looks like you just may be a fairytale princess after all.”

Emma made a face. “There’s no way I could be a princess.”

“It is a fairly common name, but I think you’d be a good princess. Look at Snow White in this story, she didn’t seem to be a girly girl. She was tough.” Her phone started buzzing and she looked down at it. “Uh oh, looks like there’s some paperwork problems. I’ll be right back.”

 Mary Margaret walked back out of the room, placing the book onto Emma’s tray. She carefully flipped through the pages. It showed the young princess growing up and she smiled a bit until she reached a certain illustration. It seemed to be the same as her vision from the night before. Carefully, she grazed the prince’s face and a rainbow light fell over her.

 David rocking her to sleep.

 Snow helping her get ready for her first ball.

 Sneaking to get desserts, running around with Alexandra and Grace. A million little moments of playing with her parents, rarely having a nanny unless necessary. Going on trips, all the birthdays, times they tucked her into bed.

 Zelena crashing her 8th birthday party. Her parents promising her it’d all be okay. Snow clinging tightly to her as their carriage was engulfed with green smoke.

 They erased all her foggy cursed memories and refilled her with the love and light she had once felt.

That woman in the hall wasn’t her foster mother, that was her mom. The man who had been there just a half hour prior, he was her father. Her family, they were all in Storybrooke. A small smile went across her face. It had been 2 years, but Zelena hadn’t won. It was broken.

 The door opened and her mother entered. “Mom!” She cried out.

Mary Margaret frowned. “Oh, Emma. I thought we talked about this…if Zelena hears you calling me that…”

“No, no.” Emma shook her head. This couldn’t be right, the curse was broken! “You’re my mom. David…he, he’s my father! We were all in Misthaven, Zelena’s curse, it sent us here.”

Mary Margaret looked at the book and gave it a sad smile. “You’ve got quite the imagination, there, sweetheart. When I said you were the princess in the book, I was just joking around. It’s not real, Ems. These are just fairytales.”

 Emma’s heart sunk in her chest as Mary Margaret took the book back and slid it into her bag. What was going on? If she was awake, why wasn’t anyone else?

David had gone to say Emma a few times once she was discharged from the hospital. Something seemed different about her. She seemed to want to cry the minute he entered the room and didn’t want him to leave. Mary Margaret mentioned that she had rambled about all of them being from a fairytale, but he figured that had to do with the medicine they had given her. According to Mary Margaret, it hadn’t been brought up since.

 He knew that a part of it was the medicine, but another was Emma clinging to hope to find a new family. Mary Margaret said, despite Zelena’s pushing, the Spencers were flat out refusing to have anything to do with Emma. She was worried, Emma’s chances at getting a family were declining more and more.

 David had given it a lot of thought. Emma was a great kid, he had been pulled to her from the moment he met her. There was just something about how stubborn she was, yet she was also filled with so much hope. They weren’t a family and maybe Emma wouldn’t consider him a father quite yet, but in time…who knew what was possible? At the very most, he wanted to foster her.

 He knew the first stop was talking to Zelena. She was the be all, end all in town. He slowly knocked on her door a week after Emma’s surgery. The snow was falling heavily outside, no doubt Christmas was coming. Even the mayor’s office had been decorated, head to toe with tinsel. Zelena opened the door, a smile going across her face.

 “David Nolan,” she said. “What do I owe this pleasure?”

“I was hoping to talk to you.”

“Come in.” Zelena lead him inside. “Can I offer you some tea?”

He was going to decline, but saw she was pouring it out already. “Sounds good.”

“Very well.” She settled down across from him at the desk, passing him his tea cup. “So, tell me. What’d you want to talk about?”

“I know you’ve told Mary Margaret Blanchard that she’s not qualified to adopt…”

“Mr. Nolan, this is hardly any of your business.”

“I’m not here to plead for her case. Although, I really do wish you’d reconsider…”

“You just said you weren’t here to plead her case.”

“Right, right.” He cleared his throat, the guilt setting in. This was Mary Margaret’s dream and he was taking it from her. He hated that, but it was all for Emma. “You see, I was wondering if you were against single parent adoption overall.”

“Well, I suppose if the parent made enough…” She tilted her head. “Are you interested in adoption?”

“I think Emma deserves a family. I haven’t known her long, but every time we’re together…I just feel connected to her somehow. I understand if I couldn’t adopt her right away, but at least fostering her. She needs a forever home and I think I could be that.”

  A smirk fell across Zelena’s lips. She had other plans for David, to get him out of town and making sure that when Snow woke up, there’d be no chance of a reunion. But this, this was better. She could send both David and Emma over the town line, forever erasing any chance of knowing who they were, never to be able to get back to Snow.

 And Snow White would be all alone.

 “If I’m not mistaken, hasn’t your job been talking to you about relocating to Boston?” She asked.

David nodded. “I wasn’t looking to say yes…”

“Mr. Nolan, I’m sure you know by now that I do what I can to help those I admire and I do admire you. A man, who’s lost so much, wanting to give to a little girl who has so little.” She patted his hand and mocked sympathy. “Especially after all you’ve been through.” She had to hide another smirk when his face fell at the mention of his faux wife and daughter. “I think we could make it work. I was going to push the adoption forward for the Spencers, I have connections after all…I could make it work for you. On one condition.”

“Which is?”

“You take the job in Boston.”

David arched an eyebrow. “What does that have to do with Emma?”

“The job provides more money, it would really make me feel more comfortable with you being a single parent.”

“But my life…it’s in Storybrooke…”

“You two could start over, fresh. That poor little girl has been through so much pain.” Zelena faked a frown. “You know, now that the Spencers are insistent on not having anything to do with her, I’m afraid you could be her last chance.”

 An hour later, Zelena stood on the steps of the group home, knocking. Mary Margaret opened the door,  sighing when she saw the mayor on the other side.

 “How can I help you Madam Mayor?”

“I’ve come to give you some good news about Emma.”

Mary Margaret’s eyes lit up. “You’ve changed your mind? Oh Miss Greene…”

“Not what I said, Miss Blanchard,” Zelena interrupted. “I meant, that I’ve found a family for Emma.”

“Who?”

“David Nolan. He’s expressed interest in adopting her.” She smirked. “Oh, and Mary Margaret? I’m aware she’s laid up due to her surgery, but have her things packed. She’ll be leaving for Boston with Mr. Nolan on Christmas Day.”

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