A/N: Okay, so I know how some of you guys feel about my first person approach, and I'm glad that most of you like it! For those that don't, I'm sorry, but I can't change how I write for the next couple of chapters because I've already written them, and it would take a long time. I'd basically be rewriting what I've already written. I just finished chapter four, so I'm trying to have at least one chapter already written before I post another one. (For example, I have written out four chapters, but I'm only putting up chapter two.) Make sense? Any ways, I hope you all enjoy! I have a plan for this story, and I'm hoping to follow it. Also! Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed and also to the people who followed and made my story a favorite. You have no idea how much that means! Love you all!
Disclaimer: I don't own Once. Wish I did, but I don't.
Right as we start our walk down to Gold's, I know I'm going to be questioned. I saw it coming.
"Is there anything you want to ask us? I mean you must have questions." I'm prepared for this.
"The only questions I have are for Mr. Gold. Why did he double cross me, and what did he do to this town?" I'm set on one goal, finding Mr. Gold. He's my key interest right now. I'll have time for all the other stuff later.
"I…. Shouldn't we talk about… it first?"
"What?" Play the 'I have no clue what you're talking about' card and it'll usually buy you some time.
"Us. Your life. Everything?" Mary Margaret sounds so hopeful, but I can't have this conversation right now. Not until I have some major alcohol intake.
"Can we do everything, maybe, later? Like… with a glass of wine… or several… bottles."
"I know it's a lot to take in. For all of us." David says.
"And we don't want to push, but we've waited for this moment for so long-" Mary Margaret cuts back in.
"Yeah. So have I!" I've become frustrated and overwhelmed with to many things going on in my head. I don't mean for the words to be as harsh as they come out. "I've thought about this moment my entire life." My words are coming in gasps. It feels like I can't get enough air. "I've imagined who you might be. But of all the scenarios that I concocted, my parents being…" They look at me, daring me to say fairytale characters. "I need a little time. That's all." I look at both of them, hoping they will understand. David seems to because he changes the subject quickly.
"Snow." He's voice sounds urgent, so I turn to look behind my right shoulder. A huge crowd of people are running around, looking angry. That's never good.
"There you are!" Archie comes running up to me. "Come with me, I need your help." He turns to everyone else. "Dr. Whale's whipped everyone into a frenzy. They're going to Regina's house." He turns back to me frantically. "They're gonna kill her."
"Great… let's watch." Definitely Grumpy I can't help but let myself think.
"No. No. We cannot stoop to her level." Conscience or no, I have to agree. She is my son's mother. She was there for him when I wasn't able to be. It hurt to think about, and maybe she doesn't love him like I do, but she was there for him. I can feel my control slipping the slightest bit, my panic setting in. How am I going to stop these fairytale characters from killing my son's mother?! "No matter who she is or what she's done, killing her is wrong." Archie continues. He's in a panic too. He knows what's right and what isn't. He's Jiminy Cricket for God's sake.
"He's right. Please. She's still my mom." Damn. I almost forgot; Henry can hear everything we say. They can't kill her. I won't let it happen. Not if it's going to hurt Henry, and I can see that it will.
I look over hopelessly at Mary Margaret. "We have to stop them." I try to tell Mary Margaret with my eyes that I can't do this. That I can't stop a whole crowd of people from killing someone and that I will need help. Her help. David gets the message.
"If the Blue Fairy's right and magic is here, Regina could have her powers back. They could be marching into a slaughter." I can hear the reluctance of saving Regina in his voice, but I know that he thinks it's right too. He's convincing not only everyone else, but himself, too.
My parents share a knowing glance, and I can't help but marvel at them. They're eyes show excitement. They like this. It comes as a shock, but I guess it's normal for a prince to want to fight. What startles me is Mary Margaret's expression. She's just as ready as he is; perhaps even more excitement shines in her eyes than his. I always thought Snow White was one of the defenseless princesses, but I know enough from Henry's tales about his book that the stories here in America, are different from the real deal.
We all run with the crowd and get there just in time. They're surrounding Regina, and Dr. Whale has her pinned up against a coulomb connected to her house.
"Let her go. Let her go. LET HER GO!" I push my way through the crowd, asking nicely to let her go, but nobody listens, so I force my way through. Whale's hands are almost around her neck when I finally reached the front. I grab his arm and pull it away from her.
"Why should I listen to you?" He spits through gritted teeth.
"Because I'm still sheriff." My panic is rising, but I have to keep control.
"And because she saved you. All of you!" I almost wince at that. I can't help it. I can barely handle myself, how did I manage saving all these other people. I'm still thankful for my dad's input, though.
"And because no matter what Regina did, it does not justify this." Whenever Mary Margaret got upset, she always had a fierce side, and I can hear it coming out again, although I find myself wondering if she'll always speak with such authority, now that she's Snow White.
"We are not murders here." My voice has the same edge as Mary Margaret's does.
"Well, we aren't from this world." Whale states matter-of-factly.
"Yeah well, you're in it now." I sneer.
"Okay Whale. We're done." David steps up before it becomes a fistfight.
"Back off." Whale hisses warningly. "You're not my prince."
"Who are you, Whale?" David's on guard, but also honestly curious.
"That's my business." Whale smirks.
David gives a threatening chuckle, deadly almost. "Well, my business is making sure this town doesn't go to hell, so whether or not I'm your prince isn't the issue." His tone is taking a new level of threatening. I've used it before, but I never thought I would hear David use it. I use it when someone's threatening Henry in some way. I use it to protect my family. "We have a lot to figure out, and this isn't the way to do it." He's using his authority now. I can hear it; it even makes me want to obey.
"And Regina's death, won't provide any answers. She needs to be locked up. For her safety, but, more importantly, for ours." I'm surprised, to say the least, of Mary Margaret's willingness to stand in front of a group of people and go against them. She always seemed like the 'people pleaser' kind of girl. I feel a strange serge of warmth rising in my stomach. I want to smile, but I know it isn't the right time. I'm… proud of Mary. Proud of my mom.
I take Regina's arm and walk her through the crowd of people that grumble at us while we walk away. They really do want her dead. My son walks behind me with Mary Margaret and David. I know they'll keep him safe.
We get to the station without any problems and, despite Regina being… well, Regina, she doesn't argue much about being locked away. We get her in the cell, and she finally says something.
"So I'm a prisoner now." It's a statement, not a question.
"If the curse is broken, why didn't we go back?" David's voice is just lightly etched with fear; so lightly, it's hardly there.
"Because there's nothing to go back to. That land is gone." I can hear the conversation, but I decide to stay back, letting them talk through whatever the hell they've gotten themselves into.
"We should get back to Gold." Mary Margaret says. I can hear the pain in her voice. Her home's destroyed. I can see the sick happiness in Regina's eyes at the thought of hurting Mary Margaret. That makes me a little more pissed at her. I took Henry by the shoulder, and we walk out with David and Mary Margaret.
I call Ruby and ask her to take Henry with her to stay for the afternoon. I don't want him out of my sight, but I know that he can't come with Mary Margaret, David, and I. It's too dangerous.
She agrees of course and comes to pick him up immediately. I get him settled and know he's gonna love this even though he's complaining about it now. He can ask her about her old life all he wants, as long as she lets him.
"Keep him safe, Ruby." That's my only request. I slap the windowsill of her car and start to walk back to my parents. I know what's coming. The 'I just found you and I want to know everything about you' talk. I don't want to talk. Just let me handle one thing at a time, I think, and right now, that's Gold.
"You guys ready?" I ask.
"We need to talk." Great… that went well. I'm a little taken aback by Mary Margaret's forwardness about this situation.
"I… I don't… I just… I don't want to talk."
"Well I do. Okay? Gold can wait; I can't." Wow… way to be assertive. I've always wanted a little more push from Mary Margaret, but that isn't exactly what I had in mind. "I mean… you're my daughter, and," she takes a deep breath. "I wanna talk to you." All of the assertiveness is gone from her voice, and the smile she has on her face is priceless. I realize I know what Mary Margaret had been missing in her voice the whole time I've known her. What was there in her voice when I talked to her the first time as her daughter. She's happy. "I know that we have talked, but we didn't know that we were talking." She sounds a little out of breath, like she's rushing to get what she has to say out. "We talked about things we probably shouldn't have even talked about." She looks down at the ground regretfully. "One night stands and a like."
"One night stands?" David does a double take, and I can't help but feel a bit awkward.
"Whale."
"Whale?!" He sounds angry and a little bewildered.
"We were cursed, it was neither here nor there. The point is, we did not know that we were mother and daughter, and now we do, and so, please let's talk." It's a whisper of hope. She really does want to talk.
"Okay. What do you want to talk about?" I cave.
"We're together, finally," she gives a short pause, her face twisting in a way that sends pain down to the very core of my heart, "and I can't help but think that you're not happy about it." She looks so disappointed. I'm not unhappy! I just have a lot to think about right now. Why can't they see that? My mouth gapes a little, taken aback by the accusation.
"Aw, I am. But, see…" I'm having trouble forming the right words on my tongue. How am I going to tell them that all I've ever been is alone without hurting their feelings? "Here's the thing, no matter what the circumstances, for twenty-eight years, I only knew one thing. That my parents sent me away." I can't help the hurt that leaks into my voice. Before I can continue, Mary Margaret cuts me off with a hopeful expression.
"We did that, to give you your best chance." She says, hoping I'll understand probably. I'm tired of that excuse. Yes, you did it to give me my best chance, but that doesn't change anything.
"You did it for everyone cause that's who you are. Leaders, heroes, princes and princesses and that's great… and amazing and," I take in a breath, not really believing what I'm saying, "wonderful." I roll my eyes because of how ridiculous I'm sounding. The word sounds so forced coming from my mouth. "But, it doesn't change the fact that, for my entire life, I've been alone." I say sadly. I look at Mary Margaret and can see that registering. She looks like she's trying to justify herself.
"But, if we hadn't sent you away, you would've been cursed, too." She makes a good point, but I know what I have to say. I can feel the tears in my eyes, but I try to push them back.
"But we would've been together." My throat starts to close, the last word coming out in barely a whisper. "Which curse is worse?" I can't seem to raise my voice above a whisper. It's true, I want to be with my family, but my mind won this round, not my heart. I know I have hurt Mary Margaret by the look in her eyes, but I had to say what I know is true. I can't look anymore, so I take a deep breath. "Come on, let's just… let's just go find Gold." I brush in between my stunned parents and we don't talk about it again, knowing it's a tender subject.
A/N: READ AND REVIEW PLEASE! You're all great, but, unless I get feedback, I might not update again. I think I might shoot for five reviews or update tomorrow… whichever comes first. You guys really are awesome! Funny thing, I didn't realize I was spelling Mary Margaret's name wrong until I looked up a picture of Mary and Emma. ~pats self on back~ Good job… I know… haha. Love you all!