Title: Charming's First Father's Day
Author: Kat Lee
Fandom: Once Upon A Time
Character/Pairing: Charming/Snow, hinted Hook/Emma, Grumpy, Ensemble
Rating: PG/K+
Challenge/Prompt: fan_flashworks #157: Whistle
Warning(s): None
Word Count: 1,097
Date Written: 5 June, 2016
Summary:
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.




"Why the long face, Charming?" The Dwarf sliding up beside him to Granny's counter says the name like it's meant to be an insult. There's a smirk on his hairy lips, but the Prince and he have long since come to a mutual understanding. Neither particularly likes the other, but they have one thing in common that keeps bringing them together and persuading them to cover each other's backs whenever there's trouble. They've even come to almost respect one another over the years.

David looks down into his hot chocolate. Granny makes the best chocolate in town, but his drink seems to have already lost his flavor. The marshmallows have melted, and the cinnamon only serves to remind him of her, the very reason why he and the Dwarf get along so well now. He stirs his chocolate drink with his spoon, but it does nothing to whet his vanished appetite. "It's Snow -- er, Mary Margaret," he admits quietly.

Leroy's brow immediately furrows. "What's wrong with Snow?" he demands.

"I'm not sure," David replies honestly. "She . . . " He turns and glances up at Leroy, but as the years seem to fall back, he thinks of his companion as Grumpy instead. "She was cleaning the apartment this morning."

"So?" Grumpy demands, his brow still furrowed. "Women like to clean."

"Ha!" David chuckles at how little the Dwarf actually knows women. "Women don't like to clean," he retorts. "They do it when they have to or when something else is on their mind and they're trying to stop worrying about whatever it is, but, Grumpy -- " His eyes meet his. "She was whistling while cleaning, and the last time Snow whistled while she was cleaning -- "

"She almost killed a bird," Grumpy finishes his thought for him. He slams his mug down on the counter, bringing annoyed and inquisitive looks from several other citizens. He glowers back at them until they return to their own matters, then mutters an admission, "She would've, too, if I hadn't come home at that time."

David studies him quietly for a moment before asking quietly, "Come home with me?"

They both turn as they hear something hit the floor. Ruby looks sheepishly back at them and shrugs her slender, barely clad shoulders. "Not that way!" David exclaims. "Snow was cleaning this morning."

"So?"

"While whistling," Grumpy adds as though that explains everything the girl might need to know.

A smile chases across Ruby's face.

"Do you know something?"

Ruby grabs a broom. "I know I better clean up this glass before Granny gets back."

"Where is she, any way?" David inquires, his own brow furrowing. It's not like Granny to leave the diner this early.

"She's just gone on an errand." Ruby finishes sweeping up the glass, then sashays away to wait on another customer, leaving David and Leroy to look at each other again. The Dwarf nods. "Let's go," he says, and together, they rise and leave with Charming leaving enough cash on the counter to pay for both their drinks and a nice tip for Ruby.

It doesn't take them long to reach the Charmings' apartment. Several feet before his door, David starts to hear voices. "Do you hear that?" he questions Leroy, who quickly hides a smile. He's heard the voices for quite a while now.

They continue on to the door, which David finds to be surprisingly unlocked on his first attempt to open it. It swings soundlessly open, and he gapes slightly as he stares at the apartment full of people. Heads shoot up, and Dwarfs and humans shout as one, "HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!"

David frowns. Snow drops the banner she's been trying to help Archie and Emma hang.

"What is all of this?" David asks as she starts to walk toward him.

She smiles. "I wanted to surprise you with a big celebration, and they wanted to help," she says, indicating Archie, six of the seven Dwarfs, Hook, and Granny, who's just finishing laying out the goodies from her basket on to the Charmings' table. All of David's favorite foods along with freshly baked catfish and cupcakes cover every inch of their little, kitchen table. She looks up with a smile.

"Did you know about this?" David demands, shooting a sideways glance at Grumpy, but he shakes his head.

"Sister knows I don't want any part of this kinda party."

"Indeed," Hook remarks, lowering his flask. "Some of us are just here for the companionship." He winks across the room at Emma, making David's fingers curl with his urge to punch the Pirate.

Henry rushes David. Reaching him before even Snow can, he throws his arms around him and hugs him tightly. "Happy Father's Day, Grandpa."

Snow shrugs. "It is our first to celebrate after the curse." Her smile wavers somewhere near a blush, but her cheeks don't quite turn pink. "I wanted it to be special."

David's hands gently clasp Henry's little shoulder. As he smiles over his grandson's head at his beautiful wife, he can't help thinking that every day with his family is a special day, especially now that the curse is lifted and they have their memories back. "It is," is all he says instead in front of the Dwarfs and the other men who will judge him. He hugs Henry back but leans over the boy to kiss his wife.

Her sweet taste lingers on his smiling lips long after they've parted and he's moved on to opening presents, and he knows he's right. His name may be charming, but he's charmed every day he's with these people who he's blessed to call his family. Every day is a blessing and a surprise, and he hopes it never ends.

Snow leans over to him again, this time over his present from the daughter he's finally getting to know, and whispers a promise, "It never will."

Charming looks up in surprise. "How do you know?" he asks, truly wondering how she always seems to know what he's thinking.

She smiles lovingly back at him. "Because," she answers simply, "I will always find you, and our love will always break any curses."

"Or the product of your love," Emma interjects with a wink. "Happy Father's Day, Dad."

Charming looks up in surprise, his hands stilling on the wrapping paper in her box. It doesn't matter what gift he's about to unwrap; between the two of them, his wife and daughter have given him all for which he could ever ask for or want. "It is, Emma," he acknowledges warmly. "Thank you. Thank you, all."

The End