David Nolan sighed and rubbed his eyes as the woman he'd been told was his wife left the ward, his mother following quickly behind her. He was glad that he wasn't an abandoned John Doe with no family to collect him from the hospital, left to wander around this town – Ravenclaw Cove – but honestly, with his mother and wife fighting, he wanted to go back into the coma.
It had started out well enough. When his mother had entered the room, elated at his awakening, the emotion had been contagious, and he was happy to be there with her. She was a lovely woman, kind and sweet, even to Mary-Margaret, the woman who had been reading to him for the past few months, as he'd learned.
Then, a woman named Kathryn, who claimed to be his wife, walked in, and Martha's mood changed dramatically – and it was clear Martha wasn't pleased with the marriage.
The instant the women saw each other, they were snapping. His mother questioning what took Kathryn so long, and Kathryn snapping back that his mother was coddling him too much, which was strange, considering he'd been in a coma for eleven years. It wasn't that easy to coddle someone in a coma, that apparently had been known as a John Doe the entire time they were in it.
Leaning back against the poor excuses for pillows, David flicked through some of the photographs he'd been given. Some of the things felt familiar, mostly the ones involving his mother, but the ones with Kathryn… felt off. Like they really weren't married. But why? If the pictures and stories involving his mother felt real, why couldn't the photographs of the woman he was supposed to call his wife?
But… Kathryn had said that they were separated, near divorce, so perhaps… that was why – because he didn't really love her.
They seemed so in love in these pictures, obviously of better times. He hoped his mother didn't have anything to do with their separation, because he felt love for both women. But if his love for Kathryn didn't feel real, then why should he stay with her?
God, he had a headache.
"David?" a quiet voice asked.
He looked over, to find Mary-Margaret, and a genuine smile formed on his face. "Hi Mary-Margaret… how are you?"
She gave him a small smile. "I'm fine… how are you doing? I saw your mother and wife on their way out."
He fought the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm… doing as well as I can. They both brought pictures that I'm trying to look through right now. Healer Whale says they might help jog my memories."
"Oh… has anything seemed familiar yet?"
He nodded slightly. "A few things. The pictures with my mother and I from Christmas, and of my graduation…"
He saw her frown a little bit. "But nothing of your marriage? Surely Kathryn brought in pictures from your wedding."
"She did, but… none of that feels right. Except for the marital issues, but that's not good, is it?" he explained.
She sat down in the chair his wife had vacated moments before, and he couldn't help but think he liked seeing her in the chair more than his wife.
"Well… forgive me for prying, but is everything… okay in your marriage?" she asked.
David shook his head. "No… she said it wasn't… and I think I'm starting to figure out why."
Mary-Margaret gave him a curious look. "What do you mean?"
Leaning back, he sighed again. "My mother and Kathryn were just fighting the entire time they were here. Blaming each other for me being here…"
"I'm sorry…" the woman replied. "I wish I could help you figure it out…"
David gave her a kind smile. "Maybe you can… I mean… the other thing that feels real, that feels right… is you."
"Me?" Mary-Margaret asked. "But why? You've only known me for a few days."
She saw him nod. "I… I know that," he said. "But…. It's almost like… through your stories, I get to know you."
She frowned. That wasn't possible. "They're just stories, David. I mean… I'm not Snow White, and while I'm sure Kathryn considers you to be her Prince Charming… doesn't mean you're actually him."
"I know that," he said with a nod. "Otherwise I doubt I'd be in a coma for… how long? Eleven years?"
"Yeah, eleven years," Mary-Margaret confirmed. "But David… how can you know me from just reading you stories?"
He shifted, and she helped him sit up against the bed. "I don't know how to explain it," he admitted. "It just… feels right, to be around you."
She felt her cheeks go red, and she found herself looking at her plain black shoes, slightly scuffed from moving around her classroom all day. Merlin, she couldn't believe this man was making her feel like this. She hadn't known him before his coma, and she didn't really know him now.
She shouldn't be blushing like this – David was a married man, and while she was flattered to be one of the only things that felt right to someone that had been in a coma for the past eleven years, she was still aware that he was married.
Even if his marriage didn't feel right to him. He'd only just woken up, and he had no memories. It made sense that things didn't make sense to him right now.
But a small part of her wanted to hope that there was a reason for him not feeling right about his marriage to Kathryn, as much as she knew it was wrong. She had only just met him… well, officially, anyway.
"I'll help you in any way I can, David. But I work at the school so I can only come after classes are done for the day," she promised him.
He smiled a little, and Mary-Margaret couldn't help but feel her heart leap a little bit again. His smile was so cute, and she was glad she was the one to bring it to his face.
"Do you know how long I have to stay here?" David asked.
"Well… Healer Whale has to consult with Healer Lily Potter, I heard," Mary-Margaret replied. "But you'll be allowed out of bed and walking around tomorrow, as much as you can."
"Well, as long as I don't have to stay in this room all day…" the man muttered, and Mary-Margaret couldn't help but laugh a little. She could only imagine how frustrating this was for him – being in a coma for eleven years. He probably wanted to go out and explore Ravenclaw Cove.
"I don't blame you," she said, smiling a little. "I'm glad you're awake. The Healers were getting worried."
"Eleven years. I can see why they would be," David replied with a slight laugh. "I'm glad to know you, Mary."
Mary-Margaret blushed a little at the nickname. "Thank you. I'm glad to know you too."
Mr. Gold frowned a little as he looked out the window of his shop. Everything seemed normal, but there was something in the air. He wouldn't say it was unnatural, but… something he hadn't felt before. Something just… different.
The man hobbled to the door to get a better look, looking up at the sky, then up and down the streets. Nothing seemed to be different on the surface – people were milling about, children were running home from their lessons, and Mayor Mills was… well, being Mayor Mills.
Mr. Gold had a feeling something was going to happen in their small town of Ravenclaw Cove.
He wasn't sure what, but it was going to be big.
Lily Potter frowned a little as she stood in Mills General Hospital. Something felt off about this – like she wasn't supposed to be here, but that wasn't right. She and James had moved here after graduating from Hogwarts to hide from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Despite James' wealth, she had gotten a job at the hospital because she wanted to help people.
Why did it not feel right?
She shook her head, looking down at her file. David Nolan was awake – and she needed to go consult with Healer Whale about his well-being and if he should get up and walk around or not. She didn't have time to concentrate on something like this when there was a patient to be looked at.
Still, even as Lily went into Healer Whale's office, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
