Chapter 2
It was just a robbery, a simple robbery. Stop the carriage; grab the jewels get out like I had done a thousand times before. Why did he have to chase me? Why knock me off the horse? And the rock that stupid rock! I just grabbed it and hit the man scarring him for life. Now I bitterly regret hurting and pushing him into a river. The adventure we had had though was unexpected, thrilling and GODS FORGIVE ME! Wonderful. We parted a month ago and I haven't been able to stop thinking about him since Prince Charming, Charming. Oh I can feel my heart bursting as I say the words that I dared not. James.
I'm hunting, hands locked around my spear eyeing targets for my supper. My senses are heightened everything seems louder, harsher tastes more bitter. The life of a bandit is one that I have adapted to over the years but, even a bandit has friends, local villagers who would hide me for a night or two as payment for giving game to them sometimes medicine anything I could get my hands on to help. They were grateful and so was I. Then there was my fiercest ally Red. The woman whose barn I had snuck into in order for shelter and food. She didn't care about the eggs or the lie I told she was there for me when there was no-one. Poor Red her story was a tragic one for another time perhaps? I hear noise step forward and raise my weapon.
"Whoa! Snow."
Oh My Gods! She was standing in front of me. I nearly impaled my best friend. My best friend who cared enough to bring what looked like an entire month's worth of supplies. But, that wasn't possible? How could a month have passed so quickly? How could I have gone a month longing for him and not know? The truth was every minute I was aware of loving him, conscious of how much I ached for him it was an eternity. Ignorance was bliss.
"Red what are you doing here?"
"It's been a month." She replies cheerfully.
Yet, my reply is still "Has it?"
"How is everything in the outside world?" Please tell me anything. Regina's tyranny, Troll treachery, Granny's exploits anything just not him. Don't ask me if I want to know about him.
Of course she does, rolling her eyes for good measure. She could not be smugger if she tried.
"Go on ask what you really want?"
Resistance was futile.
"Tell me how is Prince James?"
"Well,"
"What? Tell me! Is he hurt does he need help?!" I am suddenly frantic.
"WHAT!" Her eyes are rueful and she's smiling.
"Red. I can't get this man out of my head I'm pretty certain I love him. TELL ME!"
"He called off the wedding. He called off the wedding Snow your Prince is not…"
He's not marrying her? He's not marrying her? He's NOT marrying her!
"I. I HAVE TO FIND HIM!" I have to go."
I start to move.
"No you don't he's here." She says smiling before I can ask her more she leaves.
I just stand there with the basket of food when I see him or he sees me. He walks then runs towards me not stopping till he reaches me.
"Charming."
What is Air? I cannot breathe.
"Snow."
I can see him starting a charming speech and for once in the short time I have known him. I do not want to hear it. My actions are clear and concise placing a gentle finger to his lips.
"I do not know how much you heard. Frankly, I can barely believe you are here right now." "I just needed to say. I wanted to say… Here goes!" Actions speak louder than words so my finger moves from his lips and before another word is spoken we are kissing passionately.
"I love you". We both murmur against each other. He emits a sigh as he strokes my face. The sun is light and we stand still like that for several minutes before the summer rain soaks us. We work as a team, me retrieving the food him scooping me up and taking me to the cottage we see in the distance.
I kiss him all the way up and inside until he shuts the door. Charming puts me down gently on the fireside chair while he carefully lights the left over flint. Sure enough success comes in the warmest of smiles that he gives me.
"Ahem." I signal my displeasure and stand up as if to leave he just folds his arms and gives me a stern look and suddenly I am right back to being the breathless girl he caught in a net.
"Hahaha! Oh my dearest Snow you are so easy to tease."
We are stood together now feeling the heat of the fire my cheeks flush.
"You are such an Ass!"
"Yeah. But, I'm your Ass".
"Mine."
"Yours".
"Forever."
I awoke the morning after the date before having had the most wonderful dream. I was a Bandit Princess fighting my feelings for my Charming who of course was David and of course found me.
"Morning Emma. Morning Henry?"
I sang after getting a pear from the breakfast bar. I was pleased if, surprised to see him. "Morning Miss Blanchard." Henry replied. "Yeah Good Morning Miss Blanchard Have a good night last night?"
"With Prince Charming." Henry cuts in rather smugly.
"As a matter of fact I did."
"Anyway Henry what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see Emma before school we have an hour and a quarter".
"What! 7:15. Oh I'm late."
"Late for your coffee date." Emma rhymed.
I flapped about grabbing my purse and taking a bite of my pear when there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see one incredibly handsome husband uh, I mean boyfriend with two coffee's ready to walk to work with me.
"Hey."
"Hi there."
"Morning Guys."
"Morning Mr Nolan." Both children exclaimed.
"Shall we?" I took his arm giving Emma and Henry a dirty look as we left.
"You know I had the craziest dream about you last night Mary-Margaret?"
"You're kidding?"
"No I'm not."
"And in this dream I was in the field Ruby set us up. You found me? Does that sound familiar?"
"It's exactly what happened that and you told me..."
"That I loved you."
We start to fit these odd pieces of a mysterious puzzle that we do not yet understand together and I kiss him hard.
"What was that for?"
"Just because…" I suggestively twist my ring in his view saying something more in that one action than three words could ever say yet, I still utter them.
"You're my husband and…" The phrase dances in my mind as he looks deep into my soul. "Not husband!" I want to scream to myself Boyfriend but, Partner, Fiancé, Husband and Father of My Child come to me in ascending order. Not as whimsical notions but, as solid facts or as solid as a recently attached school-teacher would want them to be.
"I love you."
I can barely believe I've said the words blushing immediately. The school bell rings and I flee from his grasp like a deer caught in headlights. Reaching the hall and internally cursing myself I imagine the inevitable break up phone call. Mortified that I was going to be joining my fellow heartbroken brothers and sisters in the "It's Not You It's Me" club. Single Saturday nights and a "Meal for One" each with my roommate. Though, Emma Swan was the best and only roommate I had ever had if the truth be known. Couldn't think of anyone better to split the Ben and Jerry's with.
Then suddenly.
He's caught up and is right in my eye line as I go to enter the classroom.
"I love you too." "Have a great day."
Well, I just have to kiss him now as my whole class watches in awe. It's going to be an interesting story-time I realise, as I know exactly what story the children will want to hear about.
The romance is in full swing. How would you like a few bumps in the road? I don't believe we've seen what our beloved Mayor thinks of Storybrooke's Newest/Oldest couple. Thank you so much for the reviews. I'll update this and my other two most recent fics soon. XXXXXXXXXXXXX
