Father Knows Best

CS. Sometimes you just need your dad. David's POV during different moments in episodes 3x10 and 3x11, including a few made up ones.

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Part Two

David waits till Emma's clipped her seatbelt in and he's begun driving to the diner.

"So… You kissed Hook."

He doesn't say it as a question. As much as he hates it, Emma is a grown woman now and it's not his place to judge her decisions. But he still wants to talk about it. Because he can sense that she wants to talk about it. Neverland wasn't exactly the best place for parent-child heart-to-hearts. But now's his second chance and he's going to take it.

He keeps his eyes on the road as she turns towards him. He slips her a smile when he turns to look at her, and is met with a stunned look on her face. Clearly this is the last thing she expected them to talk about.

"Yeah…" Emma answers, trying to figure it out as well. "I don't know why… I was feeling good?"

There it is again. That word. 'Good'.

He's not sure what it means that the pirate makes his daughter feel good, but he realises it's the first time she's ever described anything other than Henry making her feel that way. The fact that she says it like a question tells him that she doesn't know what it means either. And that she's been trying to justify it – to Hook, to her mother, to him, to herself.

All he knows is that he just told her to look for the good moments. He's not going to take back his words now.

"That's good," he offers. "At least you wanted it."

"But is that wrong? Was that selfish of me?" Her tone is critical as she judges herself.

He frowns. Does she really think that taking one moment to let herself feel good is being selfish?

Luckily they're at a stoplight so he can turn and look at her. He's glad he does because he sees the same self-deprecating expression she wears when she thinks she doesn't deserve something. David tries not to blame himself. But it's hard when his little girl doesn't believe she deserves a happy ending.

"Why would you say that?" He asks gently. She turns to look at him.

"Because Pan had Henry and Neal was dead and you nearly died. I just-" She's definitely thought about this a lot since then.

"Don't blame yourself." His voice is firm as he cuts her off. "Ask yourself, do you regret it?"

She doesn't answer. But before she looks away he sees the doubt in her eyes. The same doubt she'd had when she'd asked him if this was about Hook. The same doubt that told him that she truly cares what he thinks about the pirate – the pirate that made her feel good about herself.

And again, David realises he has no real objections. If Hook is truly what makes her happy there's no way he can stand in their way. Not that he wants to tell either of them just yet. He still wants to make Hook sweat a little more. He is still Emma's father after all. He's so wrapped up in his thoughts he nearly misses her answer.

"No."

A shift comes over Emma as she replies. She looks him in the eye, daring to give him an answer that might not make him happy. However David just smiles and reaches over to take her hand. Startled, her eyes move downward, watching his hand. But she doesn't pull hers away, allowing him to squeeze it gently.

"Then I think you have your answer." His voice is firm as she nervously looks back up at him. "Emma, ever since you came to Storybrooke you haven't had a moment for yourself. There's nothing wrong with taking one now."

He waits for her to say something. But she doesn't. So he continues.

"I know your mother really wants you to give Neal a chance," he starts uneasily. Her brow furrows at his words, confusion coming into her eyes. Her hand goes limp in his. But he keeps going, determined to make his point no matter how uncomfortable it makes him. "But it's only because she wants you to find a happy ending. We both do."

He sees that her walls are coming up. So he knows he has to work fast. "But here's the thing no one tells you about happy endings… We're the ones who write them."

"What does this have to do with me kissing Hook?"

Despite the uncertainty in her voice, he can hear the glimmer of hope behind it. Has she been thinking about the pirate this entire time? David tries not to take it personally. Instead he chooses his next words carefully. Looking her straight in the eye as he answers.

"Emma, maybe Neal isn't your happy ending. It's okay. He doesn't need to be. Your happy ending is whatever you choose…"

Even if you do choose Hook.

He doesn't say it, but the words hang there anyway.

Emma's quiet as she turns her attention back to the road. David isn't sure but he's certain he saw her eyes soften again. Maybe he didn't lose her.

He looks at the road just as the light turns green. Just as he's about to start driving again he feels Emma's fingers tighten around his, giving them a gentle squeeze. It happens so fast he thinks he's imagining it. Now it's his turn to quickly glance down at their hands. Suddenly he's back in the Enchanted Forrest, holding his new-born daughter as she sleeps, her tiny fingers wrapped around his much larger index finger. He can't believe it, but years later and he's still thrilled when his daughter holds his hand.

"You have Snow's fingers," he observes, holding her palm in his as he stretches out her fingers. "But your hands are warm – like mine. You know, my mother – your grandmother – had warm hands too."

He looks up at her and smiles as he says this, giving her hand another squeeze. This time he holds it for longer. Emma blushes and looks away. But the small smile on her lips tells him she's secretly pleased. He wonders how much time she must have spent staring in the mirror when she was a child, trying to figure out if she had her mother's eyes or her father's smile. He doesn't doubt that she did. It's what he'd done as a boy, trying to find any way to keep the memory of his long-dead father alive.

Emma doesn't say anything. Neither does she move her hand. So he continues to hold it, all the way to the diner.

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They hear a scream just as they pull up. Emma reacts almost immediately, pulling her hand away and going for her seatbelt. Despite the circumstances David almost smiles to himself. You could take the Sheriff's badge away from his daughter, but you couldn't stop her from being the Sheriff.

There's another scream as he gets out of the truck. As he rushes around to join Emma he sees Hook emerge from the Bed and Breakfast's door. The second he spots Emma his focus is on her, the concern in his eyes turning into relief – both of which he hides quickly.

"What the hell was that?"

David turns to look at Emma as she says that.

"We had the same question." Hook blurts out breathlessly.

Wait. We?

That's when David notices Tinkerbell standing beside him; the fairy just as out of breath as the pirate. It's David's turn to give Hook a questioning look. Not that the man notices, as usual his eyes are focused on Emma.

Looking at his daughter's face David sees that she caught Hook's use of the plural pronoun too. He almost groans. She'd just come around to the idea of a happy ending. And Hook undid all of that with one word. Confusion clouds her face as she first looks at Tinkerbell and then Hook. Her eyes fill with hurt as she begins to make the connection. David decides he's going to punch Hook for this later. If Emma doesn't first.

"Wait. Were you two-" She begins, asking the question on David's mind as well. It's hard not to catch the note of jealousy in her voice.

Tinkerbell doesn't even wait for her to finish. She vehemently answers "No!"

David can tell she's not lying, but it's Hook's answer he's interested in.

The pirate does not disappoint as he shrugs, a little swagger entering his stance as his hands rest on his belt.

"Perhaps…" He insinuates, tucking his hook into his belt. David rolls his eyes at the man's attempt to make his daughter jealous. He may not be getting punched, but he will receive a smack on the back of the head for his bad timing. However before David can say anything there's a second scream.

Snow!

"There!" he calls out, pointing towards the church. Dread slowly fills his stomach as he takes off. He's almost certain it's not his wife, but after Neverland he's not sure of anything. Running past Emma he sees her glaring at Hook out of the corner of his eye, and just for a moment the bad feeling in his gut is replaced with pride. Perhaps she hasn't let go of her happy ending just yet.

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They get there just in time to see Pan's Shadow rip Mother Superior's shadow from her. David is the first one to reach the body and he immediately checks it for a pulse.

"Come on, come on, come on." He mutters to himself, almost out of breath as he tries to will life back into the now-lifeless fairy. He can't help but feel a wave of guilt when it doesn't work. He'd hoped with all his might that Mary Margaret wasn't the source of the screams. Now, the fairy that had always helped them was dead.

He turns to the rest, still panting from their run. "She's gone."

"Why would the Shadow kill her?"

He can hear the fear in Tinkerbell's voice but it's Emma he's more concerned with. The look on her face now is the same one she'd worn in the truck when she'd told him about Hook. She doesn't need to say it, but he knows that somehow she blames herself for this. Looks like they found something else she inherited from him.

"No idea, Love." Hook answers, and David sees Emma look up at Hook, her expression matching his. "But I do know the Shadow only takes orders from one person."

There's a pause, as the meaning of his words sink in. Emma's the first to say what's on all their minds.

"Pan…" A beat. "But how is this even possible?"

David is surprised to see her turn to Hook instead of him. Well, not too surprised, he'd noticed her do that in Neverland as well. But he'd just put that down to her trusting the pirate's experience on the island. After all, he had spent more than three hundred years trapped there with Pan. Nevertheless he frowns. Perhaps the long haul won't be all that long.

"He must have had a spell in place," Hook replies, returning her gaze. "As long as I've known him Pan's always had a card up his sleeve."

"Henry!" Emma exclaims, realising Pan's obvious target. "The Shadow might go after him next."

"Well, at least he's with Regina. She'll keep him safe." David says, attempting to calm Emma down. As she looks up at him pointedly he remembers seeing a similar expression on Snow's face the day they put Emma in the wardrobe. And he knows what she needs to hear. "Tell her to bring him here. As long as he's with us, we can keep him safe."

Emma's eyes soften and she nods and steps away from him, putting the phone to her ear. David turns to see Hook watching her, his eyebrows raised as he watches her use the electronic device.

"It's called a phone." He explains, albeit a little rough. "Shouldn't you be doing something?"

Hook turns to look at him, clearly confused by David's harsh tone. But David's expression doesn't change. Keeping one of Emma's suitors in check helps distract from his worry for Snow. He knows she's perfectly capable of handling herself – they did fight Medusa together – but it doesn't do anything to soothe his fears. If she's okay, why hasn't she found him yet?

"I'm sure she'll be okay mate," Hook says, looking David in the eye. "Your wife's a strong woman."

And now David feels bad. You don't take your worries out on your one friend. But as he looks up at Hook sheepishly, Hook just smiles back like it's water under the bridge. Or maybe you do…

"We need to cover the body."

Tinkerbell's voice brings David back to reality. Both he and Hook look down at the former Blue Fairy. She's right. There's no sense in leaving a dead body on the steps of the church.

"There's a blanket in the truck."

David turns to go get it but Hook stops him.

"I've got it." He says, already walking toward the diner.

David nods. "It's under the seat."

When he's gone David turns to Tinkerbell. "Is there any reason Blue would be a threat to Pan? Does she have something he needs?"

"I don't know… Fairy dust?" She offers.

Just then Emma returns.

"Regina says he's fine. She's bringing him over right now." She looks around in confusion. "Where'd Hook go?"

"He went to get a blanket," Tinkerbell replies. "To cover the body."

"Good thinking," Emma says, nodding at the fairy. She's about to say something else when she's interrupted.

"David! Emma!"

They turn to see Mary Margaret running towards them. David has never been so relieved to see his wife. He kisses her as soon as she's in his arms. Judging by how tightly she holds him he knows she'd been just as worried.

"Where were you?" He asks, after she pulls away to hug Emma. Their daughter is taken by surprise before she leans in to reciprocate. David smiles to himself as he watches the return of Teenage Emma. Despite her awkwardness with physical displays of affection, he can tell she enjoys being hugged by her mother.

"After you went to look for Emma, I decided to go home," Mary Margaret explains, letting go of Emma. "But then we heard the screams and rushed over here. What happened?"

That word again. We.

David looks up to see Neal standing there, a foot away from them. He watches as Emma notices him as well. He's surprised and honestly, a little pleased, as he notices her tense up. Perhaps he does know his daughter better than he thought. He hopes that's the case. Neil offers her small save and Emma nods back at him, clearly unsure how to greet him after standing him up for lunch. David decides has no problem with that.

Mary Margaret clearly notices the exchange. "Neal was walking me home."

Was that an extra emphasis on Neal's name? David makes a note to tell her about the change of plans later.

"Why was there screaming?" Mary asks, bringing his attention back to the matter at hand. "Is everyone okay?"

"No," Emma answers, stepping aside to reveal Blue's dead body. "Pan's shadow. It stole Mother Superior's shadow and now she's dead."

Snow gasps, tears springing to her eyes as she catches sight of the dead fairy's body. David wraps his arms around his wife, kissing the top of her head to comfort her.

"But how can he be controlling the Shadow if we trapped him?" Neal asks.

"Hook said he probably had a back up plan," Tinkerbell replies.

Almost as if summoned Hook appears around the corner, carrying the grey wool camping blanket David had bought while under the curse.

Emma immediately walks over and reaches for it, looking the pirate in the eyes. David isn't sure, but the whole process takes longer than it should. He glances around to see that everyone's attention is on the pair. Emma notices too. Her cheeks are a faint red as she turns around and walks over. Hook on the other hand has eyes only for her, following half a step behind her.

She doesn't make eye contact as she approaches her parents. Instead she just goes around them. Judging from the expression on her face, David's pretty sure that's what Teenage Emma would have looked like had he caught her kissing a boy.

Looking past her he sees Hook stop at Tinkerbell's side, instead letting the pirate's eyes follow Emma as she circles around and starts opening the blanket. David lets go of Mary Margaret and begins to help Emma spread the blanket.

As she hands him a corner their fingers brush and he looks up to see her watching him. Her eyes are filled with worry. And guilt. In that moment all he wants to do is hold her and tell her that Henry will be fine and that she shouldn't be afraid to feel. But this isn't the time or place.

Instead, he just joins her as she continues to unfold the blanket further, despite it already covering the fairy from head to toe. Because sometimes being a parent is simply about being there.

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A/N: Thanks so much for being so patient for Part 2. I was almost done, but then life came up and I had to step away from this for a while. I also want to thank you guys for your lovely comments and messages about Part 1. Talk about making someone's day!

Just a couple of notes about this chapter: I thought ending it here would work well because: a) I wanted to see Charming be a dad through the tough times (though all he's seemed to have are tough times), b) I didn't want to rehash a scene we've already seen on the episode. I hope I did add some new stuff to the little bit I did repeat.

In any case, thanks for reading this! (If you are.) And feel free to leave me any questions, comments or concerns you guys have!

Oh. And there will be a Part 3. I'm just not sure when (Life looks like it's coming up again). But in the mean time, feel free to check out any of my other stuff!