Once Upon A Child

A Happy Beginning

**A few days earlier**

"Good morning my beautiful Princess!" David greeted, his smile radiating way too much energy that early in the morning.

"Morning Dad." Emma grumbled, her morning coffee not yet sinking in.

"Love, I think you'll find he was talking to me." Killian joked.

That made Emma chuckle, she sat up straighter in her chair before continuing the conversation. "Someone got out on the right side of bed this morning."

"What are you talking about?" David objected, "I always get out of bed on the left side! Your mother insists on sleeping on the right."

Killian stifled his laughter at the horrendous joke.

"Dad." Emma sighed, hoping he would just hurry up and spill the details. It wasn't that she didn't like him in this overly-cheery mood, but it was usually accompanied by either a significant date or some special news. It was nobody's birthday or anniversary so that ruled out the date, meaning he was holding onto some news putting him in this state of elation.

"What?" David asked, seemingly unaware his daughter had cottoned on, "Can't a man enjoy the fact he spent breakfast with his wife and son, tended to his healthy animals, and now gets to spend the morning helping his favourite daughter and son-in-law with paperwork? Can't a man be happy Emma?"

No, he couldn't! Not without driving his daughter nuts from not knowing what the reason was.

"First, of course we're your favourite daughter and son-in-law, we're your only daughter and son-in-law, unless there's something I've missed. And second, you hate paperwork!" Emma retorted.

"Hate is a strong word Emma!" David told her, mockingly shocked.

"Come on!" She pleaded." Tell me!"

"Alright," David yielded, " Your mother and I were wondering if you'd like to join us for lunch today." That's it? That was the news? Emma knew there was something else, but for now, she was willing to let it go.

"Er, yeah, sure, we'd love to have lunch at yours."

"Actually Love," Killian said, "I'm on the lunch duty, but you should go. Enjoy a meal with your parents."

"Are you sure?"

"Emma, I think I can survive a lunch without your supervision. Go, please." Killian encouraged. And so it was decided, Emma would avoid her greasy onion rings from Granny's and enjoy a lovely meal with her parents and pint-sized brother.

*****

"I know something's wrong so you might as well tell me." Emma scowled, sitting at her parents' kitchen table. The way her father had been dodging questions since he got to the station was a major give away.

"What? There's nothing wrong! What are you talking about?" David replied, acting innocently, as if he hadn't been singing along to the radio while filing documents. 

Since Emma walked through the door, they'd been fussing over her as if she were a newborn. It wasn't every lunch time that Snow was prepared to change the entire menu on Emma's account, as it was, her favourite dinner was already cooking.

"Dad, you've been acting weird all morning, there's definitely something wrong!" She pursued, they weren't going to get out of it that easily!

"We told you, there's nothing wrong." Snow echoed, "Bear claw? They're you're favourite!" Emma was disgusted with her mother's attempt to bribe her curiosity with food.