#also because I HAD to bring out that little tiny tinsy information that Emma neglected to give Ben: that her parents know 30% of what she

[smiletimeisrunningout]

"Hey, you know how much I love August!" Emma protested with a grin, "But I'm going to tell him you said that." "It was truly the easiest way for Emma to let us know she was in good hands," Mary Margaret interjected, "While I'm a little concerned about the... Grace of the Colonies." "Oh, that's Caleb. You'll meet him soon. You'll see why I picked her." Who knew what could have happened if Grace and Caleb had met. Probably an actual fire. She's remarkable. While Emma missed the flash of interest in her mother's eyes at Ben's praise of her, she saw the way both her parents lit up; of course he had to say that, it was not only polite but what she had instructed him to do to win over her parents, but it still warmed her heart with pride to see them bond over it. "That, I do not doubt," David agree, bringing his arm around Emma's shoulders, "Our daughter brings hope wherever she goes." Mary Margaret simply nodded, watching between Emma and Ben with curiosity.

The laughter that came from both her parents when Ben brought up attempting to entertained her with books had Emma gave Ben a look that clearly meant 'see?' "Oh, my dear," Mary Margaret gave him an apologetic look, "I'm afraid that's closer to my heart than Emma's. You should have tried with food." "Mother!" Emma protested laughing. What was she, a dog? "It's true, but still."

"Clearly, she won that argument." "I am wearing a skirt too, am I not?" on top of the pants and cut on her side, which made it feel more like some sort of long vest or a cape, but at least she had been ready for action. Several kinds of action, really, if only her parents had been a couple of days late and Ben had been on time. "Well, in her defense, it is a military camp," David observed, "If there were to be an attack, fighting in a skirt could prove to be..." "Difficult," Mary Margaret ended in a disapproving note, the one of a woman who had been in that exact position, "Especially if you have a smaller frame than a man and need all the advantage you can get-not that I expect you to have fought in person, Emma." "No, of course not, I can't, it'd be as good as declaring war." "And hopefully you left Regina's men alone as well," her mother continued, and Emma did her very best not to look at Ben, to keep staring at her mother's eyes so that her mother would look only at her, and hope that her dad wouldn't look at him either, because Emma had very much fought those men as soon as some of her guard had caught up with her. She had told George she'd wait until her parents knew she wasn't under his care anymore, and she had waited until their letter had confirmed so, before taking off for a couple of weeks to eliminate the threat. It was nothing special, Ben knew well that she had been in plenty battles before. Ben did. Her parents did not. "I know you felt tempted to go, but a real battle isn't a tournament, you must let it be taken care of by more experienced people. I'm hoping your staying here taught you that too." "Of course, mom, I'd never be that reckl-well, I'd be, but I let the soldiers take care of it. I barely trained to keep in shape, men here get agitated by pants, I couldn't even look for play-fights. I did get dresses made so they'd be more comfortable, they are in that trunk." "Oh?" her mother turned to see, and her father turned his head as well, and that was when Emma gave Ben a warning look. Possibly a little pleading.

"Let's stay a little longer, I'm afraid we'll inevitably be interrupted if we get out of Emma's tent now," Mary Margaret pointed out, picking up a dress to check it herself, "This is a good color for you." "I guess what my wonderful wife means is that she has just started snooping." "David!" Emma chuckled, casually stepping closer to Ben so she could whisper to him: "As far as they know, I only fight when I'm under attack. Rarely."

It felt as though Benjamin were trapped inside a whirlwind. He gaped between the trio, his head swimming with each uttered word. Finally, he was able to focus once Emma stepped forward and made introductions.

Unable to help it, he sneered. "You refer to me as 'August of the Colonies?' Should I be insulted?" His words were laced with unmistakable warmth, and despite the fact he was meeting Emma's parents -- something that should be wholly terrifying -- he found the couple very disarming as they stepped forward to greet him.

The reference of taking care of Emma and entertaining her brought a faint flush to Benjamin's cheeks -- one he hoped and prayed could be attributed to the slight chill in the air -- and he laughed, self-conscious while accepting David's offered handshake. "What started off as duty has since turned into friendship," he offered. "Your daughter is...she's..." Sparing Emma a brief glance, he clumsily finished, "She's remarkable. We very much rely upon her spirit and good cheer here in this camp."

David's quip earned him a more genuine smile. "Very much so," Benjamin agreed. "I've tried entertaining Emma with books, but she's declared war upon Shakespeare -- a man who's long since been dead."

Mary Margaret was all smiles as they spoke, sunny and pleasant, and a clear relation to Emma's stunning positivity. She invited him for a drink and he straightened. "Are you allowed to partake, Major? We'd love to discuss Emma's behavior in the past year."

"Behavior?" Benjamin echoed. Yet again, a nervous heat burned beneath his collar and he chuckled, offering what he hoped to be an appeasing smile. "Well, aside from dismissing my love of literature, she's been perfectly pleasant...though there was also a minor tiff about wearing breeches." He nodded toward Emma's ensemble. "Clearly, she won that argument."

Biting back an amused smile, he attempted to keep his eyes on Emma's parents as he affirmed, "I'd be honored to join you. I've just come from a meeting, so I shouldn't be needed for the rest of the day...so long as everything goes according to plan, of course." He waved a hand. "We could head over to the officer quarters, if you'd prefer? It's far homier than these tents."