You all can thank loboselinaistrash for this one, because she convinced me to write it haha. This is going to be slow burn Snowing, but I promise, they are endgame.
Mary Margaret let out a sigh as she smoothed down her blouse before ringing the doorbell. The door swung open and Ashley greeted her with a huge smile on her face, a hand resting on her baby bump.
"Mary Margaret! Hi!" She threw her arms around her, giving her a tight hug. "I'm so glad you could make it."
"Of course." Mary Margaret said, allowing her friend to lead her into the house.
The living room was abuzz, most of Storybrooke was present. The present table was overflowing with gifts and it took Mary Margaret a minute to find a spot. She leaned back for a minute as she looked around the room once more. Many people had brought their own babies, it seemed there had been something in the water. Ashley was the latest of their group to get pregnant. In fact, there was only one person left who didn't have a kid of their own.
Mary Margaret.
She was 28-years-old and always pictured herself with at least one child by that point. She hadn't found Mr. Right, yet. Her friend, Regina, told her that she didn't need him to have a child. After all, she had adopted Henry as a single parent. She appreciated it, but she didn't want to do it alone. It wasn't just the idea of changing dirty diapers and doing all the late night feedings alone, it was having someone to go through all the milestones.
Mary Margaret had always been the girl to want a baby. She played with dolls from a young age and made lists of potential names in junior high. She was one of the few that actually looked forward to the robotic baby project in health class. There was only one other person she knew was that obsessed with having a family someday at that age. She smiled over at him and he matched it, lifting a beer before turning back to chatting with Thomas.
David and Mary Margaret had met when the former moved to Storybrooke with his step-father and twin brother when they were 16. He had lost both of his parents by the age of 10 and after Ruth's death, George became his guardian. David wasn't like his brother, he wasn't interested in playing sports or hanging out with the rough crowd. So, he found himself getting well acquainted with Thomas, who was dating Ashley even back then.
As it turned out, they had a lot more in common they realized. Mary Margaret had lost her mother when she was younger and was being raised by her single father, who seemed to busy to pay any attention to her. She and David hung out a lot, studying and eating greasy fast food at Granny's diner. They even both went to the same local college. Everyone always joked they should just get married, but they didn't see that. They were best friends, nothing more.
This was the third shower Mary Margaret had been to that year. She was really happy for Ashley and Thomas, she knew how badly they had wanted a child. They had to try for years and Alexandra would be their miracle baby. Even so, Mary Margaret couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Halfway through the party, she noticed that David was standing in the corner, holding Gideon. She looked around for Belle and Kenneth Gold, but came up short. She walked over to him, smiling.
"Kidnapping babies now, are we?"
David laughed. "Kenneth forgot the present in the car and Belle had to run to the bathroom, so I offered to hold Gid here."
"He really is adorable." She let out a content sigh, stroking the baby's chubby cheek. People had been a bit hesitant when Belle started dating Gold, but they were really happy. She made an amazing step-mom to his son and now they had added to their family. It didn't hurt that the baby looked great in David's arms. "You gonna hog the baby the whole party?"
He smirked. "Here."
David slowly put the baby into Mary Margaret's arms and she moved him closer to her, so she could inhale the intoxicating scent babies always seemed to have. She didn't know what it was, almost like they were born with it. Gideon wiggled in her arms, trying to reach up for the necklace around her neck.
"Oh no, no, that's not a toy."
David looked around and picked up the rattle Belle had left behind, placing it in Gideon's hand. "There we go."
He could see the look in Mary Margaret's eye, it was the same one she got every time she held one of their friends' babies. Suddenly, they were the only person in the room. She'd just babble with them and rock them gently. Mary Margaret had always been great with kids, he could remember while most of their friends went out on the weekends, she'd be babysitting for her neighbors. It was no surprise that she became a teacher.
Belle walked back over and smiled at the sight. "Well, thank you guys for keeping him preoccupied."
Mary Margaret looked up. "Oh, no problem." She placed Gideon back in Belle's arms. "There you go, Mama's back."
And just like that, another look David knew all too well was on Mary Margaret's face. The same one she got whenever she had to give a baby back. She knew of course that the babies weren't hers, but he also knew how badly she wanted one of her own. The truth was, he was worried she'd follow in Regina's footsteps and adopt as a single parent. However, she shared that just wasn't what she wanted. At the time, she had been dating Victor Whale and thought they'd end up with a child.
That name alone made David want to punch a wall. Whale was one of the best doctors in their little town, but also a known womanizer. He had a wondering eye and a cheating heart. David had warned Mary Margaret about him, but she went after him anyway. It lead to nothing but heartbreak. He supposed he couldn't talk. After all, he was only a year out of his divorce.
Gulping, he noticed Kathryn standing on the other side of the room, her arm linked with Jim. He knew he should've been pissed about his wife's infidelity and yet, he wasn't. He was more upset of what they could've had. They hadn't talked since their last hearing, when things were all settled. At first, he thought they could remain friends, but then they got into that fight.
"You never came to me," Kathryn accused him. "You always went to her."
It wasn't true, or so he thought. Mary Margaret was his best friend. Was that supposed to change simply because he got married? Kathryn was his wife. He didn't push her to cheat, she made that choice on her own. Besides, Mary Margaret was there for him through it all. She made sure he was eating and brought him takeout from the diner, she rented all his favorite action flicks. He wasn't sure how he would've gotten through any of it without her.
His thoughts were interrupted by Thomas' sudden clapping. "Alright everyone," he announced. "It's time to open presents."
They all sat in a circle, ooing and ahhing over all the cute things people had purchased for the baby. He grinned when Ashley opened up Beverley Lucas' (or Granny as she insisted on being called) present, a baby blanket. She made them for all the babies in Storybrooke. This one had bright pink ribbon and the baby's name scrawled out on the side. He couldn't help but notice that every other baby there had one too. It was just a special thing they all shared.
Eventually, the party came to a close. Most people were in the apartment's parking lot, struggling to get car seats or cajoling kids to get in the car. He could see Mary Margaret unlocking her tiny Subaru, her purse slung over her shoulder. He walked over to her.
"Aesop's?" He asked.
A smile broke out across her face. "Definitely. I'll meet you there."
David hopped into his truck and followed her down to the bar. The town had two, but the Rabbit Hole was more of his brother's scene. Aesop's was quieter and one could actually have a conversation. He settled down across from Mary Margaret, their craft ale in front of them.
"So, another one bites the dust," David said, taking a sip. "I think the two of us, Ruby and Dorothy are the only ones left."
Mary Margaret shook her head as she swallowed. "Nuh uh. Ruby and Dorothy just told me, they're heading to China next week. The red tape is all cleared up, they can adopt Ming."
"Aww, that's good for them."
"It is."
"You're jealous."
She sighed. "How can you tell?"
"It was quite obvious."
"It's just…I thought I'd be there by now. I had a whole plan. Married at 25, first kid at 27." She shrugged. "Life didn't go according to plan."
"Take it from someone who did get married at 25, it doesn't mean you will get pregnant."
She frowned. "You and Kathryn never talked about it?"
"I don't think she knew what she wanted."
"Do you want to know what I heard?"
David made a face. Jim was a gym teacher at the school where Mary Margaret worked and she always had the gossip. "Do I?"
"Apparently Jim and Kathryn have been trying. At least that's what he told Jasmine."
"Great." He finished off his beer.
"I know you want a family as badly as I do."
"Not with her. I mean, we talked about it…but she just never seemed interested."
"Maybe she's getting to do it with the right person, so you can find the right one for you."
David sighed. "I sure hope so."
Mary Margaret studied her friend for a long while. He had once told her to look at him as a cautionary tale. Marriage didn't always work out. She had been against doing things as a single mom, but she wasn't getting any younger. She wasn't anywhere near the point of her eggs being no good, but she just wanted to be a mom.
Maybe it was time to look into some other methods.
Mary Margaret sat in the office of the adoption agency, tapping her foot against the floor. It had been 3 weeks since Ashley and Thomas' baby shower and she had filled out her application not long after. It was time to find out her chances, could a baby be in the cards for her?
Sidney Glass walked in and sat across from her. "So, Miss Blanchard, you have shown interest in using our agency to adopt."
She nodded. "That's right."
"And according to your information, you're single."
"Yes."
Sidney continued to look over the papers. "You're a teacher."
"4th grade, at Storybrooke Elementary."
"Right." Sidney closed her file and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry to tell you, but it doesn't look good."
Mary Margaret frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I wouldn't say your profession would have much to do with it, if you weren't going into this alone," he explained. "Many of our expecting mothers are looking for married couples."
"But it's not impossible to adopt as a single parent," she interjected. "My friend adopted through this very agency as a single mother…"
"What is her profession?"
Mary Margaret chewed on her lip. "She's…the town's mayor."
"That would be why. You do make enough to support a child, Miss Blanchard. However, since you have a friend that has been through the process, I'm sure you know it takes awhile."
She nodded. She remembered it had taken at least a year before Regina gotten the call about Henry. "Well…yes."
"I think you'd be looking at a longer wait."
Mary Margaret drew in a deep breath and let it out. Sidney wasn't telling her she wouldn't be able to get a baby, but the options seemed lower. She didn't want to wait years, she wasn't sure she could wait. She had other options, she knew she did. Before she settled down a bunch of money to be put on a long waitlist, she decided to give it some more thought.
Feeling defeated, Mary Margaret headed to the diner. She had taken the entire morning off work and the sub would cover her through the student's recess. She needed some tea and a grilled cheese to sort her nerves. Sliding into her usual booth, she gave her order to one of the waitresses and half-heartedly scrolled through her phone.
"How'd it go?"
Her head whipped up and she found Ruby standing there. David may have been her best friend since high school, but Ruby had been her first best friend, period. They had met the first day of kindergarten and been inseparable ever since. Ruby's parents had died when she was a baby, so she was being raised by her grandmother. Mary Margaret's mother passed away when they were in first grade and the two connected deeply. She was the first one Ruby came out to as bisexual and she supported her best friend. She loved Dorothy, she was perfect for her and had served as maid of honor in their wedding two years prior. It made sense that Ruby was the only person she had told about her interview.
"It's not looking good." Mary Margaret chewed on her lip. "I'd be a single parent as it is, but apparently my job didn't help."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "Seriously? I would think that would give you brownie points. You're crazy enough to work with kids every day, they should give you a kid."
Mary Margaret couldn't help but laugh. Ruby knew it wasn't that easy, she and Dorothy had been trying to adopt for a long time. Even so, she was just trying to help her best friend feel better. Signaling to Granny that she was taking a break, she slid across from her friend.
"Have you thought about using a sperm donor?" Ruby suggested. "I mean, DNA doesn't matter, but you'd get to experience being pregnant."
"I'd like that. It's just…I'm not sure I want to do it alone. I mean, even adoption." She sighed. "That was too impulsive."
"There's um…there's something else I'm going to suggest. It may sound crazy, but here me out." Mary Margaret raised an eyebrow, but gestured for her friend to continue. "Well, before I met Dorothy, I was afraid I wouldn't meet anyone. So, Will, you remember him? Anyway, we made a pact. If we were still single at 40, we'd have a baby together."
"I didn't know you were attracted to him."
"I wasn't, but he was a good guy and I figured he'd be a good co-parent." She smiled. "Then he met Anastasia and I met Dorothy, so it obviously wasn't needed. But, it was still a plan."
Mary Margaret made a face and sipped her tea that the other waitress delivered. "I'm not sure I could wait until 40."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "Not what I meant, Mare. You could do it now, with a friend…like David."
"David?"
"6 feet tall, dirty blonde hair…"
"I know who David is. It's just…really?"
"You're both single, I know you two have wanted babies since forever." She shrugged. "Why not?"
Mary Margaret wanted to argue about how ridiculous it was, but she felt Ruby had a point. She had known David for a dozen years, they were best friends. He was the town sheriff and so great with children. She knew she could count on him to be a good co-parent. He'd adore their child no matter what.
If they used IVF, she imagined what the child would look like. Would they inherit her green eyes and his blonde locks? Or the opposite, with her dark waves and his baby blues…
Out of all of her friends, she could picture having a baby with David Nolan.
It was worth a shot….
Game night was once a fun way for the group to get together, drink wine and have fun. However, with most of them having kids or being pregnant, attendance was dwindling. Gideon had a cold, Ashley wasn't feeling so hot and Aurora was bringing the baby to visit her parents. David didn't quite understand why Ruby and Dorothy couldn't come. They gave some half-ass excuse about working, even though he knew they didn't have. Either way, it was just going to be him and Mary Margaret.
She seemed awkward from the moment he entered her loft. It was a decent size for her. She chose to sleep in the living room area, the upstairs had two guest beds set up, not that she ever had many visitors. The furniture wasn't the comfiest, but it was all she could afford when she moved out of her father's after college.
David watched as she poured out some wine and set up the first game of the night: Scrabble. They got started, her beating him as usual. Just as he was trying to figure out his next move, he could see her subtly switching out tiles. He raised an eyebrow but before he could say anything else, she grabbed a sharpie and drew a question mark on one of the blank tiles.
Without another word, Snow arranged the five tiles out on the board, far away from their game. David studied them and raised an eyebrow.
Baby?
"Um…Mary Margaret?" He looked at her confused.
"I want a baby," she said, quickly. "And I want to have one with you."
