Family
A baby's cry.
She could hear it as she placed a snowdrop by John Doe's bedside.
It grew louder and louder as did the nurse's attempts to calm it as they both entered the room.
"Who is this?" Mary-Margaret asked warmly. feeling an instant pull to the child. Her little face was red from crying, but, her eyes were so full of love. The teacher was mesmerised instantly.
"They found her in the woods wrapped in this." The young nurse said, "She's so sweet! They are looking for the mother but, so far they've got nothing." Mary-Margaret smiled sadly and then gave into her instincts and allowed the desperate nurse to ease the babe into her arms.
"Who would ever give you up huh?" "Beautiful girl." She cooed, moving slowly to rock her gently in her arms. The baby completely relaxed and gurgled in her embrace and Mary-Margaret felt so complete, so happy.
"Emma." Mary-Margaret says without even glancing at the hand stitched blanket that bore her name.
"How did you know her name?"
"I'm sorry?" She stammered reluctantly tearing her eyes away to address Nurse Taylor.
"You didn't let go of her once. Not even to look at her blanket. How did you know her name was Emma?"
"I- I don't know?" Was her bemused reply. Quite frankly, she could not have cared less about the nurse's odd question. All she cared about was Emma. Emma Emma Emma.
She loved this little girl.
"Maybe she just looks like an Emma? That what my mama says. That babies look like who they are supposed to be. You just know, you know?"
"I do." Mary-Margaret beamed kissing Emma's fore-head.
"What's going to happen to her?"
"CPS have been called. We just have to pray they find a home for her. Poor little thing will probably get bounced around like a rag doll."
"Can I take her for a little while?" She asked in a gentle whisper.
Nurse Taylor was unsure but, the complete devotion in the teacher's eyes was too difficult to refuse.
"Sure, she's had some formula. And I can't see her waking your Mr Doe." She smiled, knowing that as soon as she saw the woman at his bedside it was like watching a wife tending to her husband and now, a mother tending to her child.
"He's not my Mr Doe." Mary-Margaret chuckled as Emma made noises as if she agreed.
"Sure, he isn't." And then she was gone.
Mary-Margaret settled them both in a chair. "This is Mr Doe. I don't know what it is about him but, as soon as I started, I just had to be by his side."
"Oh Emma." She sighed lovingly as the little girl yawned and finally closed her eyes.
A thought crossed her mind and once it had she could not let go of it. I have to take care of you. I have to love you for your whole life, I have to tuck you in at night and tell you it's gonna be alright.
"I'm going to be your mommy now."
It had taken weeks and weeks of checks and house visits and people rallying around her but, finally finally Emma was officially hers.
The glass unicorns dangled above her sweet daughter's forehead as she kissed her goodnight.
"Goodnight my precious one. Mommy-" She stopped herself and then added what her heart was longing to say despite, having no proof to speak of. "Mommy and Daddy love you."
Every-day was a new adventure, a lot of the time she ended up stinking of puke or poop or both and yet, she didn't care because she was a mommy.
She was Emma's mommy. Having quit at the school, they were living off her parent's inheritance and what little savings she had (which was enough to keep them going for a year or two) but, she knew she'd have to go back at some point.
It was at these times when she was grateful for just being able to park Emma by John Doe's bedside, take his hand and talk to him.
"Hey, we're back again. Emma was so excited to see you." "Okay, I was excited to see you." She admitted stroking his fingers.
"I know you're in a coma and you probably have a gorgeous wife and kid, but, I just can't shake the feeling that you and I are connected."
Against all her better judgement, she leant forward and kissed him on the forehead. She felt warm when she did it pouring all the feelings she had for him into it moving it tentatively to his lips.
She doesn't expect to feel anything, quite prepared to pull away and be eternally embarrassed. Who makes out with a comatose man?! But, she does, she feels another pair of lips on hers and an arm fighting against the restriction of an iv to wrap itself around her face and increase the intensity until they both gasp for breath.
"You're awake?" She breathes ecstatically unable to quite fathom how her indulging in childish fantasies has resulted in this man, this man that she's felt bound to for as long as she could remember being awake, alive and looking at her so wonderfully.
"Yes, I am. You woke me." He beams, holding her hand.
"Yeah, I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me." She stammers, relieved to see that Emma is still contented in her stroller, little wisps of blonde forming on the six week olds head.
"Where am I?"
"Story-brooke General. I used to be a volunteer and look in on you whenever I could."
"Thank you-" He gestured for her to say her name.
"Oh! Mary-Margaret, Mary-Margaret Blanchard." She realised laughing and then reluctantly broke away to tend to Emma and push her as close to his bed as possible.
"Mary-Margaret."
"Who is this?" He said delighted, at the sight of the baby girl who he swears is smiling at him.
"My daughter. Emma. She's your biggest fan."
"She's beautiful. Is your husband?"
"Oh no! I'm not married. At least, I don't think I am." He sighs relieved, and then silently notes the peridot engagement ring that seems familiar to him.
A heartbeat passes and he smiles, and for a moment, she feels the heat of his stare and almost brushes her lips against his knowing that somehow, they both want the kiss.
"I should- get a nurse."
She pulls away so sharply it almost stings him but, he nods and waves to Emma as she releases the stroller and slowly then swiftly begins to walk away.
"Will I see you tomorrow?"
She turns them both Emma kicking out adorably. Her heart is hammering in her chest from the adrenaline of it all and it's a struggle to stay composed because she feels so much all at once.
He's alive. He's awake. I kissed a stranger why doesn't he feel like a stranger? I should go. I don't want to go! I want, I want you!
"We'll be right back." She promises with all her heart.