Chapter 2

Of all the emotions she expected to feel the morning after her father's funeral, Mary-Margaret never anticipated this. Never anticipated how much of a comfort it was to feel David Nolan's protective arm around her. So peaceful and angelic in sleep, it took all the will-power she had not to kiss him awake. After all, she didn't really have a right to do that, there wasn't anything solid between them. They weren't dating. There was no house with a white picket fence. She wasn't his wife.

And yet, gentle hands found his face anyway, they stroked anyway. She pressed a loving kiss to his fore-head and listened to the dreaming sigh that unconsciously bubbled from him. Coming to Boston at all had been impulsive, risky and completely driven by a broken heart. Even Ruby, the best friend a woman could ask for and Queen of Crazy Decisions would have thought she was nuts.

And then there was Mama. She needed to go home. Quietly untangling herself so as not to wake the newly dubbed Prince Charming, her feet barely touch the ground before scanning the room for the one thing she needs. The photograph of David and his mother is pride of place on the bookshelf as are the classics. It seems Prince Charming loves another woman. Anna Karenina

Holy bananas he was perfect.

"Don't get distracted Mare you just need a…"

Aha! A black: hopefully, non-permanent pen. Wonderful!

When David wakes he finds Snow has gone and for a moment he feels dejected… until he sees the gift she left, her number and a kiss scrawled across the arm that held his friend's daughter.

Ha. He would never forget Mary-Margaret Blanchard now.

"So are you going to tell me why you didn't come home last night? Or do I have to guess?" Eva said curiously as she set to work making them both a cup of coffee. Mary-Margaret had bounded in full of apologies and kisses but, had so far avoided the one thing the perplexed woman wanted to know.

"I- uh."

"How is he?" Eva cut straight to the point, enjoying the way the blush crept up in their baby's cheeks. Mary-Margaret laughed oh, how Eva missed the music of it. "He's okay. We just talked Mom."

"Is that right?" Eva smirked. "Then why are you still smiling my darling?"

Charming makes me smile. Mary-Margaret thought.

He waited a week before calling. Chivalry and space was what was required. Leo had left the biggest hole in their lives there was no way he was going to just swoop in and…

Yet he called anyway.

"Hello?"

"Hi. You wouldn't happen to know a woman who writes her number on men's arms would you?"

"Maybe." She teased. "Hi Charming."

David sighed warmly and the giddy woman swore she could feel it through her cell phone. Or perhaps, wished for that.

"How are you?"

"How's your mom doing?"

After a pause.

"We're taking it a day at a time."

"Is there anything you need?" He nearly whispered.

I need you to hold me again. Mary Margaret thought but, couldn't say instead the words "No. Thank you. Charming." "We're fine."

"I don't think you are."

"No. Honestly. We're good." Somehow she kept her voice from completely breaking.

"I can go if you…"

"NO!" Mary-Margaret nearly roared. "I mean, talking to you helps." "Being with you. Helps me."

"Snow. About last week…"

"You mean when we kissed like a pair lovesick teenagers?"

"Yeah- Snow what I'm trying to say…" He tried.

"Would you like to come over for dinner sometime? I mean, there's no pressure…"

"David." There was that laugh he had already grown to adore. "I would love to."

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