I walked down the hallway of Storybrooke Elementary towards the third grade classrooms. I found room 143 with Mary Margaret Blanchard at the front of the class. On her finger she held a little blue bird out the window, and the students awed as the bird flew back up to its little bird house in the tree.

"Nature is all around us, and it's important to respect it. That's why we must work together to help keep it alive. So, your weekend homework is to either start a recycling system at your house, or if you already have then you can join the volunteer garbage brigade on Saturday. Get the person in charge to sign the slip I passed out and bring that in for credit. Have a good weekend class!" She told her students. The students promptly gathered up their bags and I entered as Mary Margaret retired to her desk to pack her bag.

"Wonderful class Mary Margaret," I applauded as I walked her way. "You always seem to know exactly what to say to them to make them love you so much."

"Awh, Beatrice you're such a sweetheart. I'm sure your kids love you just as much." I smiled at Mary Margaret's innocence. She was a great friend to everyone; including me. I turned back to the window and saw the bird perched on the tree branch. Mary Margaret walked up behind me.

"Today, I showed them the trick you taught me." She explained. I held out my finger, sung a sweet tune and the bird flittered its way down to me, landing on my finger. "It never fails." I whistled to the bird and it seemed to understand. It flew back out the window to the tree.

"I've learned you don't need words to reach a person. Sometimes a simple song will do." I smiled at her. "Are we ready for the walk?" She nodded when a boy and a young woman entered the room.

"Henry, Emma, I wasn't expecting you." Mary Margaret said in surprise. "Is everything alright?"

"Uh, it's about-cobra." The little boy, Henry, said. I suddenly recognized him from my music class.

"What's cobra?" I asked. The boy looked weary of my question, when I saw a large book in his hands. I turned to Mary Margaret. "Is that the fairytale book I gave you?" I inquired.

"You gave it to her?" The young woman, Emma, asked.

"Yes I did, as a gift." I replied.

"And where did you get it?" Emma questioned.

"From my father, I'm sure you know of him; Mr. Gold." Emma's eyes went wide.

"Mr. Gold is your father?"

"Yes, does that surprise you?"

"Yeah, it does actually. He just never seemed the fathering type." Emma said with distaste.

"That seems a bit out of line for someone who doesn't know him like I do."

"And who might you be exactly?" Sheriff Swann asked.

"Beatrice Gold," I replied a little stubbornly. "I'm the music teacher here at the school." Emma looked at me suspiciously. I didn't want to get upset, and I didn't want to hear any more about my father. I turned to Mary Margaret.

"I'll be outside." I told her and walked past Emma and Henry. Outside the door I caught part of their conversation.

"I should have known." Henry said.

"Known what kid?" the sheriff asked.

"That's Princess Aurora, from Sleeping Beauty. She has the voice that can call the animals, and she is really pretty."

"Do you have a crush on her kid?"

"Of course not!" Henry replied. "But look at her picture." I'd heard enough and walked down the hallway when I passed the nurses office. A young man with dark hair came out and smiled at me.

"Good day, Miss Gold." I knew him as Clark Wells, one of the local ER doctors at Storybrooke General Hospital. I smiled at him.

"And to you too, Dr. Wells. What brings you back to school?" I asked.

"I was just helping your nurse restock her supply. Are you heading out?" I nodded. "Might I walk with you?" My smile diminished a bit.

"I'm actually waiting for Mary Margaret. But some other time, yes." Dr. Wells got very close; close enough for me to smell his cologne on his newly shaven face. He lightly kissed me on the corner of my mouth. The touch was sensational, and how I wanted to kiss him even more.

"Until tonight," he whispered.

"Seven on the dot," I whispered back.

"On the dot." He kissed the other corner of my mouth and swiftly walked out the school double doors. He looked back at me, flashing his gorgeous smile. I couldn't help but blush, smile, and suppress the urgency to run after him. My father had never approved of my past relationships, and so that was why Clarks' and mine was secretive. If Father had ever found out, I'm not sure what he would do. He was definitely a powerful man.

"Ready?" Mary Margaret said from behind me, startling me out of my day dream.

"Yes, yes I am." I replied and we started on our way. It wasn't long before Mary Margaret asked me a question.

"Was that Clark Wells I saw leaving?" I nodded. "Did he come to see you?" I instantly stopped and stared at her.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because I know that you two have been secretly seeing each other." She said matter-of-factly.

"For how long?" I said giving in.

"Since Emma came to town, so that's a month?" She replied. I looked down, ashamed I had kept it from her.

"I'm sorry Mary Margaret, but you know my father. And if he ever caught wind of it I don't know what he'd do to Clark. And he's a great guy, and you know how hard it is for someone to fall for me." I blurted out. She looped her arm around mine.

"Bee, don't worry. I won't tell." She promised. "So, how serious are you two?" She inquired.

"Well, I think-he might be the one." I blurted again.

"Really? Just like that?"

"Well, I mean, I know it's only been a month but it just feels-right. We have this connection, and when we're together I feel like-"

"Like you can do anything." Mary Margaret said softly.

"Exactly." I looked at her but she was looking down and biting her lip, like she was trying to hold something in. "M, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," She said, brushing it off. I stopped us on the sidewalk.

"M, when did you start hiding things from me?"

"Well, you hid your relationship with Clark from me. I think we all keep secrets even from our best friends."

"Yeah, but I told you. And you already knew, so it's not the same." She continued to bite her lip and hold her arms in. "Is this about David?" She refused to look me in the eye. "Mary Margaret, please. What's wrong?"

"I'm seeing David." She blurted out. "It's been going on for about a week or so, and I think-I'm falling for him."

"Oh M, but you realize that he's married? I mean, how can you get past that?" I asked.

"I don't know. But, like you said with Clark, it just feels right when we're together." She seemed to glow and smile.

"Well, I'm happy for you M. You deserve a good man." We both walked on home smiling.