Disclaimer: Just playing, will put everything back when finished.

It's not that the apartment is made for a taller individual, quite the contrary. Just a few weeks previously she and Mary Margaret had gotten along just fine, being close to the same height and all.

But between a curse-breaking and a portal jump or two, Emma's favorite mug now rests beyond her reach.

And, of course, she's too damn stubborn to just get a chair and admit defeat.

So she continues to struggle to reach, and wonder how long she has before the rest of her newly reunited family walks into the kitchen for breakfast and witnesses her futile behavior.

Then suddenly her fingers feel that familiar curve of the handle, and she stands as tall as she possibly can.

Almost, almost…

But she only succeeds in pushing it back further.

"Son of a mother-fu-"

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

The amused voice makes her start, and she throws a scowl over her shoulder at David.

"I can't say I have recently, but then I wouldn't have use for such language if my mug hadn't been put away by somebody much taller than me, would I?"

David doesn't deny it, and the sheepish expression on his face would have given him away if he had.

"I'll help you get it," he nods, and Emma moves to make room for him, when suddenly she feels two very strong hands grab her under the armpits and lift her off the floor.

"What the hell-?!" she squawks, too shocked to struggle just yet but immediately nailing the culprit with her best indignant glare.

"I said I'd help you," David all too cheekily responds, "I never said I'd get it for you."

Touché.

"Ugh, fine, just a little higher King Kong."

He immediately obliges, and after she grabs her long-desired mug and David gently lowers her back down without so much as a single muscle shake, Emma can't help but be impressed.

True, she isn't exactly a large individual, but she isn't a lightweight either, and David has made holding her above him, while holding a conversation, look downright effortless.

She does her best to focus on that impressed feeling, and not the thoughts that follow. Thoughts that have been harder and harder to ignore since being reunited with her parents, thoughts from the little girl that still lives inside of her.

Because that little girl wonders how it would have been to be picked up for piggy-back rides by those arms, to be tossed playfully into the air knowing those hands would always be there to catch her on the way down. Every time.

Like she'd never had.

"Hey," one of those same hands touches her shoulder, and Emma forces herself to disconnect from those wishes and could-have-beens to meet David's gaze.

She doesn't expect to see what she doesn't want to acknowledge reflected back at her.

It's too much too soon, and she swallows hard, looking at the hard-won mug in her hands instead.

His hand squeezes before dropping away and she glances at him and nods, an understanding without words.

I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable.

I know, you didn't, it's just-

Yeah, I know.

"So," David clears his throat, "Coffee?"

Not the most subtle of segues to be sure, but it's a start.

"Sure."

She even manages to smile a little, and he smiles back.