Prologue

"Dear Diary"

"Emma!" Charming bellowed from her bedroom. Emma was in the kitchen, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with her mother when she heard the noise. His tone was full of disappointment, disbelief, and even… anger. What's his problem, Emma thought setting her mug down and walking toward her room. Before entering she gave Snow a questioning stare, hopping she would know what she did, but Snow just shook her head confirming she knew just as much about this as Emma did. Ab-so-lutely nothing!

So Emma just shrugged as she entered cautiously but she also wasn't fazed by his surprising moment of what she believed was discipline. Emma is a grown woman, there isn't much he could tell her to do now, there isn't much he needs to talk to her about now (things like the birds and the bees for instance), and there isn't much he actually needs to protect her from now. She could be herself, figure things out by herself, and protect herself and with Neal hovering over her, like the way he does (because you think Rumpelstiltskin is bad), she doesn't need any more help in that department. So when she entered, watching Charming's face flush red, she answers very casually, "What's up?"

"What's this?" he asks her holding up a red leather book with a heart sewn on the cover. His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. Emma crossed her arms and took a deep breath. He could see the disappointment in her eyes but she kept rather calm when she answered.

"My diary," her voice steadied but hinted with frustration, "and what are you doing with it?"

"I want to begin by saying I'm sorry for reading your diary. I didn't realize until it was too late but I'm also glad I did!" he said still looking a bit ashamed but not entirely. Opening the book he reread the personal entries out loud, "Dear Diary. Today is my sixteenth birthday and you may think of me a whore when I tell you I slept with five guys in the same week." At that last part he paused and grimaced in disgust, but he wasn't done. "One of them was of course my ex-boyfriend Johnny. He asked if we could…" he gagged again before continuing, "…do it one last time before he left and I…" Again he took a deep breath before reading the rest. Emma didn't understand why he kept reading it if it was killing him inside, "said yes, which was a HUGE mistake." That last part was apparently allowed as he cocked his head to the side in agreement. "The next day was with a guy named Trevor who I met at the dance-"

"Oh my gosh! I remember Trevor," Emma said in excitement. She took a moment to ponder those days in high school when Charming bellowed in impatience.

"This isn't funny!" steam fumed out his ears, "is this how you treated yourself when you were young!? Are you still treating yourself this way!?"

"Yes, no and what does it matter? It happened a long time ago. I can't do anything about it now. I don't see why you're getting so worked up about it."

"I am your father!"

"NOOOOOOO!" she yelled which caught Charming a little off guard. When she realizes he was beginning to take it the wrong way she quickly explained, "Sorry! It came from a movie. I didn't mean it. I was just trying to lighten the mood. The air is pretty thick in here." He nodded his head with relief and continued.

"Why would you think I wouldn't care?" he asks softly.

Emma dared not say anything. She knew that if he actually did love her, it would only break his heart, which was, by far, one of the things she would hate doing but she could tell Charming was losing his patience again so she thought there was no point in hiding it. Might as well talk about it now while they are actually talking. "You don't really seem like you do," she said finally. Before he could protest Emma explains. "Listen. Apart from when I was a baby and you saved me, risking death, which I appreciate. You spend allot time with Henry and Mary Margret, and it's GREAT," she quickly added. "but you also kind of… avoid me." She had to say it. It was true, and the sad part about it was, she didn't mind it. It was almost stress relieving that he wasn't such an overprotective parent, well… At least he wasn't such an overprotective parent, until now.

Charming was speechless. He staggered back a little because he was so blown away. Had it been true? Did he not spend enough time with his only daughter to not realize how little of relationship they really had? "W-well I… I mean. I didn't mean to come across…" He pauses trying to find his voice. "Don't misunderstand…" he stuttered. He was never really good with words, especially when he recognizes he had done something terribly wrong. "I mean… I love you." Emma took a deep breath, her eyes retreating to the floor and it hurt him when it was clear she just couldn't say it back. "You know that don't you?"

This whole conversation was just awkward. She almost thinks it was the most awkward conversation she ever had. Even more awkward than losing her virginity and that's the reason she was caught in this mess. Stupid sex! Why can't it be like Las Vegas? What happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom (even if he did find it in the bedroom) and even worse, they aren't even talking about sex now. This is a whole other conversation about the relationship between a father and his daughter. Still she knew she must be honest. After Henry she learned that you can't avoid truth, because one day it would pop out like daisies, big destructive daisies that make your week a living hell. "Yes… and No," she said slowly, understanding this was a very delicate situation. "I know you're my father. Trust me I'm aware. I took sex ed classes. I know about the birds and the bees, but before the curse broke. I only knew you as the dumbass, who couldn't make up his mind and I wanted to hurt you so bad for hurting my very first best friend." She paused, calming herself from the bad memory. "Then after the curse I find out you're my father and trust me. It's the weirdest thing ever to find out your father is almost exactly your age and Prince Charming. It was a lot to process, but was kind of cool at the same time." She let that sink in as Charming took in her words positively. Despite being reminded he had hurt Snow badly, he was happy to find his daughter and his true love have such an unbreakable relationship. "But we never… talk or spend time together. You were quick to teach Henry how to ride a horse but when I needed you most you… you weren't there."

Another blow to the chest but this time it was worse than the last. He didn't know how much of it he could take. How much he hadn't realize, how much Emma needed him. He accepted a long time ago that Emma was an adult. He understood all the challenges in life she had to learn on her own, but he also felt cheated, because he wanted to be there to help her get through it. "And when was that? When you needed me I mean."

Emma shrugged. "When I found Neal I guess. I fell in love with him and he made he believe he played me. That all the 'I love you's and 'we were meant to be together" talk was complete and utter bullshit," she began to become emotional just remembering all the struggle and heart break. Charming didn't know if he should try to comfort her or leave her be, " and then I found out he left me with just a car and a kid, who I couldn't even keep because the court decided I was incapable of taking care of him." Tears started to fall and that was his cue. He slowly moved toward her grasping her shoulder in comfort. He didn't know any other way how. "I mean it's like if Snow betrayed you and left you when she was no longer in need of your services." Charming thought about it and he didn't want to. The whole idea made his heart race and the air become think and unbreathable. She wiped away her tears moving away from him. She didn't need comfort now. That was over and done with. Neal explained why he did what he did and though she doesn't agree with it, she's happy that he didn't use her like she originally thought.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there." Charming admitted, "I wish I was. I guess I do avoid you because, I don't want to believe I missed all those years with you and I regret that it happen the way it did. You were right when you told Snow and I, it would have been better to keep you with us, because then you would have always been with us and we would have figured it out together. I feel guilty every single time I see you, because I made a huge mistake sending you away."

"No you didn't." Emma quickly said, "It was hard but it was the right thing to do. Truthfully we needed Henry there because if he wasn't, I would have just called all of you crazy and leave. Nothing would have been saved without him." She smiled at him when she said, "I was supposed to meet Neal."

"But where does that leave us?" He asks and it kind of catches Emma of guard because she hadn't thought about it. Is there even and 'us' in their relationship? Granted she told him something extremely personal but was only to explain why she believes what she believes, "How did you think of me after the curse?" Emma shakes her head, telling him silently that he does not want to know. "Emma," he says, "I need to know!"

"You're my mother's husband," she says without remorse. Honesty sometimes can be cruel and if he wants to hear it so badly he'd better be prepared, but he still doesn't understand. Of course he's her mother's husband. That's what makes him Emma's father.

"What do you mean?" he asks and even though he doesn't quite understand, he still feels offended hearing the negativity in her tone.

"You've never felt like a father to me. Don't get me wrong, I get you are my dad but you never gave me the impression that you are my father. You are just… my mother's husband. Is that what you wanted to hear?" Her tone was so heartless and aggressive because she didn't want to say it and she hated him for making her say it. That is it. That did it. His heart couldn't have broken more than it did. All the broken pieces have fallen to the floor shattering, impossibly, into smaller pieces. Suddenly the skies turned grey and all the color in his world disappeared. Emma sat there in the silence waiting for him to say something. He moved to the other side of the room trying to process everything. His eyes were beginning to tear but he would NOT let himself cry. He could fix this. He can.

"Then we need to change that," he said quietly. It was a statement directed toward himself but Emma heard it and didn't like it.

"What?" she asked awkwardly.

Charming spun around looking at her determination burning in his eyes. "We are family, Emma! You are my daughter and we are going to spend more time together." Emma's shaking her head. No. She didn't like this at all. She was already content with the way things are. "I'm sorry I didn't think of this sooner."

"Don't be," she said.

Charming began toward her door as he insisted, "No this is a good plan. You'll see!"

Emma tried to keep up with him, "You don't have to do this!"

Charming pulled on his jacket and moved out the door of their apartment. "Yes I do!" He said before closing the door behind him. It slammed and made both Snow and Emma jump. Emma stared at the door speechless. What have I done? She thought grimly to herself.

"I take it the talk went well?" Snow smiled behind her mug. This was not what Emma needed. She moved toward the table dropping her body in the chair across from Snow. She didn't need drama, she didn't need Charming forcing quality time on her and she didn't need to feel guilty for telling him the whole truth. What she need was hot chocolate. Emma began to sip on her cold mug, trying to calm herself down. All of this could have been avoided if she would just let Charming yell at her and treat her like a child. Why couldn't that just happen? Now he's going to hover over her all week, trying to mend the bond. What was wrong with their relationship anyway? It may not be perfect but it was doable and easy. "He's right you know?" Snow said suddenly.

Emma nearly choked. Coughing she asks, "Y-you! Cough! You're siding with him?"

"Emma, sweetie, he's your father and so your family. Whatever reason you want him to stay away, you have to push it aside, because once Charming is on a mission, he won't stop until it's complete."

"So what you're saying is," Emma asked annoyed, "I should let him force 'father daughter bonding' on me? Like we're some normal family?"

Snow thought about it and shook her heard. It was obvious they weren't normal, so why try to be. "All I'm saying is. You might surprise yourself."

SO! This was it. Charming and Emma were going to spend more time together. Oh! (Sarcasm) What could go wrong?

READER'S NOTE-

Okay, so I spent allot of time thinking about this. I knew I wanted the both of them to really talk and I'm kind of making a series on it. So what do you think and what do you want to see next? Inspire me!

REVIEW!