of ribbons & rosin ( cs au )
Plot: Killian is a single father, and his daughter is enrolled in Emma’s dance class. He has nobody to watch his daughter after class, and he’s often late, so Emma usually sits and talks to the girl until she is collected from the dance school.
Summary: Based on this prompt I found in the depths of tumblr; “I’m a single parent and my child takes your dance class and thanks so much for always staying after class to watch him/her when my boss is an ass and keeps me past my off hours and holy cow you’re pretty/handsome and really sweet/kind and wow I should be late more often so we can talk. Say how do you feel about private lessons? For my kid- yea, yea, for my kid”
Chapter 3, Captain Swan AU, Rating M.
read it on a03
The raven haired little girl had been sitting alone, since all of her friends had been escorted away to buy their lunches, with the money their parents had bequeathed them for the day. Daisy, however, had been given her princess lunchbox, containing a meager lunch, by anyone's standards. She sat with her legs outstretched before her, the box perched on her shins, as she glared in the direction of her friends with their McDonald's and Subway lunches, while she ate her carrot sticks and hummus.
Miss Emma had been putting the last minute touches to the costumes and props when she had passed by Daisy, sitting alone, and looking not too thrilled about it. Emma had yet to have lunch and the prospect of sitting through a three-hour recital on an empty stomach made her queasy. Still, she plopped down next to the girl and gave her a friendly nudge with her shoulder. She gave the girl a moment to comprehend the situation, given her expression before the blonde had joined her. She made sure to take in everything she could about Killian's daughter before deciding on the right conversation starter. Finally, though, Emma spoke up.
"You know, if you're still hungry after your carrots and hummus, we could go and get pizza and ice-cream..." Emma smirked, glancing sideways to Daisy, trying to gauge the girl's reaction before it even happened.
She finished chewing the bite of carrot before she set it down, back into its container and regarded Emma's comment with a slight frown. She was contemplating the offer. Evidently, Daisy glanced up at her teacher and quietly responded, "The others got McDonald's."
The blonde thought she had finished her observation, and made to respond, "Well, if you want--"
"Pizza sounds great." The girl smiled gratefully, as she set aside her lunchbox and stood, waiting for her teacher to follow suit.
As they sat down at the booth in the Pizza Hut restaurant, Emma smiled across at Daisy, peering excitedly at the menu. Emma had told her, she was allowed to choose anything she wanted, as long as she could finish it. The girl had agreed and took to narrowing down her choices. After a while, after a few moments of casual chatter, about the recital and what choices were available on the menu, Emma decided to change the course of the conversation.
"You know, your friends weren't very nice to leave you eating alone like that."
The drinks had arrived, and the girl was playing with her straw, flippantly trying to drown the ice at the bottom of the glass. She shrugged and gave a meek nod, "I know. It's because I had a lunch from home, their mommies and daddies gave them money to buy whatever they wanted." She turned her eyes up to Emma, "Daddy just wanted me to be safe, and not lose the money he was going to give me for lunch."
"Well, that's sweet of him to think of you like that." Emma nodded, smiling encouragingly, "I know he wouldn't have wanted you going hungry, would he?"
"No...?"
"He's just looking out for you, kid."
"I know." She responded, her tone was uneasy, not convinced at the direction the conversation was taking.
Emma sucked her lip into her mouth before she furrowed her brows, thinking of the best way to go about relating to Daisy. She sighed and gently took the girl's hand, ceasing her movements with the straw, briefly. The blonde cleared her throat gently, "I know you're upset about your friends leaving you to have lunch on your own, but, I've been there too. When I was your age, I didn't have many friends, maybe one or two. But, I had were my books and my music, I liked to sing a little." She smiled at the memory, "My parents weren't around that often, like your daddy, but I didn't need friends when I knew my best friends were living in the same house as me."
"Your parents?" Daisy asked, her brows raised slightly.
"Yeah." Emma smiled, nodding brightly. After a moment, she continued, "I'm not telling you to stop being friends with the girls here, but remember, your dad is always going to be your best friend, Daisy. It doesn't matter if he's late or not there, just remember that he loves you so unconditionally."
"And, what about my mom? Do you think she loved me like that, too?" Daisy questioned, her brows lower, confused.
"I didn't know her, Daisy, but I'm sure you were the first thing she thought about when she woke up, and the last thing she thought about before she fell asleep every night. And, I know she's not here anymore, but that doesn't mean she's not thinking about you. And, it doesn't mean she's not with you."
Daisy tilted her head, her nose wrinkled slightly as she listened to Emma's explanation about her mom, and how her mother probably felt about her. The girl blinked in rapid succession, before she asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well..." Emma sighed, reaching to place her hand over the space where her heart was. She glanced down to her chest and smiled, before turning her focus back to Daisy, "I mean she's always here. Your father, also. Anybody you love and care about, they'll always be with you, there."
"Even you?" Daisy questioned innocently, her eyes hopeful, as she watched Emma skimming over the menu, obviously thinking the conversation had ended with her comment.
Emma was taken aback, but she stared at Daisy. It was Emma's turn to blink in rapid succession. She swallowed and smiled, regaining her composure as she glanced softly at the girl opposite her, "Of course. I care about you, too Daisy. You'll always have a place here, with me." She assured the girl before she caught sight of their server with another order. It looked divine. She turned to Daisy and beamed, "Should we get one of those?!"
Back at the theater, Daisy had rejoined her group of friends and was somewhat bragging about having shared her lunch with their teacher. Emma couldn't help but chortle every so often, and shake her head at the comments the girls responded with. But, it seemed Daisy had won back her crowd, and to Emma, that counted for something. Parents had started arriving, however, and there had been no sighting of Killian yet, so Emma decided on sending him a courtesy message, just to remind him.
Good afternoon Killian, it's Miss Emma from Glass Slippers Studios. Just a reminder; Daisy has her recital today. She'll be going on stage at around 3:15. She's very excited to see you here! :)
Emma went back to re-stitching the lilac fuzz that had come away from the leotard strap of one of the youngest dancers and had shoved her phone back into her pocket. However, almost immediately, Killian responded to her message, several in swift succession of each other:
Aye love, I remember. And, I know who you are ;) I'm excited to see my little princess dancing up there, too. I'm also excited to see you there ;)
Emma flushed at the last message, and as she went to type out her response, another message from Killian flashed up on her display;
Any chance you'll be dancing today, lass?
Emma was beyond beetroot. If any of her colleagues or her students had glanced over at that particular moment, they would have witnessed her stock-still, staring at her phone, like an idiot. She wondered whether she had imagined the message from Killian, but the moment she glanced at her screen, she knew it had been reality. She swallowed, unsure of whether to reply and if so, what to reply him. He was using the damn winky emoji again, she noted. He was obviously in a playful mood.
Is that so? No, unfortunately, I won't be dancing today. It's all about the students and showcasing their talents. I doubt anybody would want to see me up there, actually.
The smiley in her message had been a reflex, a reaction to his. But, the response she received in return really took the cake.
Do you really want to know how many people have asked me if I have a pen in my pocket, today? ;) And, well, that's a shame. Maybe you can dance for me another time then?
That was it. She was a puddle of mush. Emma clicked the lock button on her phone, and willed herself not to hurl it across the room to aid her concentration, while she finished sewing the leotard for the baby class. The blonde took to taking in deep breaths, as she tried to regain her composure, completely ignoring what had just transpired via text message. The clock was ticking, and she had no time to be wasting like a school-girl, sending flirtatious messages back and forth with her crush.
I'll take that as a no, then shall I love? :D
She heard the vibrate from within the tote bag beside her. When she pulled out the cellphone, she caught the tail end of the message, before the screen dimmed automatically. Emma pushed the home screen and shook her head, he was unwavering with his pursuit of her, even via text message.
It wasn't a pen, by the way... ;)
After that, there were no more messages. Either he had gone back to his work, or he was otherwise occupied with something...else. Emma was able to complete the stitching, and get the girl into her costume without too much crankiness from either party. With the clock counting down, however, the blonde was nervous about whether or not Killian would arrive on time to see his daughter on stage. Another courtesy message;
Killian, the program is running slightly ahead of schedule. Daisy will be onstage in about 20 mins, will you make it on time?
Again, almost immediately, he responded;
Despite my regular time-keeping discrepancies, I will arrive on time. I'm about three blocks away. Save me a seat?
By the time the act before Daisy had finished their routine, and the stage had been cleared, and reset for her solo, Killian was still nowhere to be seen, and Emma had since past worry. She was out front, ready to prompt Daisy, should she forget the movement, and did not have much space in her mind to consider anything else.
The music struck up for Daisy; an airy adagio, as she almost fluttered onto the stage, her minute feet working double time to get to the center before her cue. Emma reminded her to smile, and raise her head, look up to the light, as though it was guiding her. The girl did all of those things, and more, and Emma couldn't have been more proud of her even if she had been her own child. The music emblazoned into a crescendo, as Daisy reached the climactic peak of the routine, truly one with the progressions, and ultimately at home alone on the stage.
It wasn't until the piece had become staccato, that Emma even noticed the pair of eyes watching from the wings: Killian. He had arrived, on time, and had witnessed his daughter's first solo at her recital. Emma acknowledged him, with a slight nod, before she refocused her attention on Daisy, still dancing upon the stage.
As the piece came to a close, the final note held fermata, Daisy's movement slowed, sending her into a plié, hand outstretched and up, toward the light. As the note closed, she was greeted by rapturous applause from the audience, and audible comments from the rows closest to the stage, commenting on how incredible she was for her age, and how she could give some known talent a run for their money.
In the wings, Daisy was greeted by her father. She beamed and ran into him, like a whirling dervish, begging to be held, "You came!" She giggled, clinging to his suit jacket.
"Of course, my love. I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Killian responded, only now setting her down in front of him, kneeling down, so he could be at the same eye level as her. He tapped her nose proudly, "You were absolutely incredible, I don't think I've ever seen you dance like that, sweetheart."
"I did it for you, dad." Daisy responded, touching Killian's hand, her own dwarves compared to his, "And, for mommy." She whispered, smiling up at her father.
The moment he heard his daughter mention her mother, Killian felt himself unable to breathe. Of course the two had had conversations about her before, and what she had been like, what had happened to her. But, upon seeing his daughter dance as though her life had depended on it, Killian was a quivering mess. He managed a bittersweet smile, though, as he replied, "She would be very proud of you, princess."
"I know..." Daisy whispered, smiling as though she was keeping a secret. She lightly retracted her hand from her father's and placed it over her chest, "I know she's with me, here."
Emma hadn't meant to overhear. She had made her way backstage to congratulate Daisy on such an impeccable solo. But, when she had rounded the corner, and accidentally eavesdropped on Daisy with her father, the blonde hadn't been able to move. She listened to the exchange with wonderment. Daisy had listened to everything she had told her, processed it, and imparted it onto her father, and for that, Emma felt a stronger connection to the Jones family.
She waited a moment, allowed them their moment before she finally rounded the corner of set and beamed at the sight; Killian on his knees, with his daughter before him, arms weaved around his neck, in an embrace that was meant for a father-daughter duo. The blonde stood there a moment, before Killian glanced up and noticed her presence.
"Afternoon, love." He smirked a little, patting Daisy on the back, silently prompting her to unravel herself from around him.
"Killian." Emma nodded her greeting, before she glanced to Daisy, "That was perfect!" She beamed, holding her hand up for the girl to high-five, "I've never seen you do that so well, Daisy! You're amazing!"
After retracting her hand from Emma's, Daisy blushed slightly, "Thank you. I just remembered what you told me at Pizza Hut."
"Oh?" "Pizza Hut...?"
"Yeah--" Daisy began, but was cut off by Emma.
"Oh, about that..." Emma gave a light chortle, "I took her for lunch at Pizza Hut. But, don't worry, she finished most of her hummus beforehand..." The blonde allowed her smile to transform into a smirk.
