Chapter 4
They stand in the shower leisurely kissing and touching as the water catches their bodies washing away all the dirt, and grime of the morning while their daughter sleeps soundly in the nursery.
He shields her automatically, instinctively despite, there being absolutely no threat to her safety because that's how it has always been from the moment he met her… maybe even before.
"She has your smile." Mary-Margaret beams after they break, stroking the scar on his chin with her palm.
He chuckles, warmed by his girlfriend's comment. "What?"
"She has your smile. When you are happy, or think you've won me over. You get this smile that just… spreads across your face. It's so bright and occasionally smug. Emma has it. Emma smiles in exactly the same way."
"You were saying how much Emma is like me. I swear to God I look at her and sometimes, all I see is you."
"Is this because of what I said?"
"No! Yes, maybe? Honey, I just can't help but, wonder if there's a reason she does, if there's a reason her hair is coming through that same blonde as yours."
He digests her words and then comes to the same conclusion. "Wait. Are you saying that you think I could actually be? Emma's biological father?" He says, amazed.
"Yes."
"Think about it David, you were brought in on the same night Emma was most likely born with these deep injures." She stops herself compelled to kiss the thankfully healed but, scarred flesh.
"But, I would never have left her." David says; voice caught by the feeling of her lips searing his skin so he just has to pull her up so that he can crash his lips against hers.
"I know- Charming." "But, what if you were on the way to the hospital with your wife and… Mmm. Stop kissing me."
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No."
He continues kissing her in an effort to distract her but, it proves fruitless even when he moves it to her neck.
"But, what if you and your wife which, for hypothetical purposes let's say is me because you seem so adamant about not loving another woman." She jokes
"I'm listening."
"What if, I was in labour, had Emma, and then on the way to the hospital we were car-jacked. You tried to fight them, but, they took the car, attacked you and then abandoned Emma in the woods."
"That's a good theory. Except, for one problem."
"What happened to you?"
"You HAVE to take her. Take the baby to the wardrobe."
"Nonononono. You don't know what you're saying?" He pleaded astounded by Mary-Margaret's decision. They had to stay together. They had to be a family.
"David. David, honey what is it?!" He comes back to see Mary-Margaret's startled expression.
"It's you. It's really you." He breathes, a surge of remembrance filling his heart.
"What's me? David, are you remembering something?" The ex- teacher replies, beautifully flabbergasted by his actions.
"You don't know who I am. Do you?"
"Of course I do! You're my boyfriend." His heart sinks. it seems it will take a lot more than discussing the circumstances surrounding Emma's birth to get her to remember.
"Now, come on, she'll be waking up soon." Mary-Margaret chirps encouraging him to continue his ministrations in typical Snow fashion. And because, it's her, because she is right in front of him, he decides, he won't deny her anything. He won't deny his family anything ever again.
"Hello my Emma." Charming breathes when he is alone with her. Mary-Margaret preoccupied with making breakfast.
"We've been through the wars, my angel and it might take Mommy a little longer. But, she will come back to us. I will find her. I will always find her."
"The hell you will." Regina seethed seeing the vomit inducing scene through her mirror as she paced in the mausoleum suddenly getting an idea she whipped out her phone, dialled and pressed it to her ear putting on a mask of the concerned citizen.
"Hello- I'd like to report a case of child abuse." Regina gave her best worried voice.
"Yes- she has been beating her baby. The poor child flinches at the sight of her. It's just so- heart-breaking!" She took a breath. "Her name?"
"Mary-Margaret Blanchard."
Charming remembers! BUT Regina never forgets. Seems she's been biding her time.
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