Soul Of Steel

AU. Mary Margaret is a single mother struggling with raising a family after her husband is forced to go back to war.

A/N: I'M BACK! THIS JUST JUMPED INTO MY MIND AS I WAS LISTENING TO SOME GOOD COUNTRY MUSIC.

I DON'T OWN THE SHOW. WANT TO DEDICATE THIS TO ALL OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT HAD SUPPORTED MY OTHER OUAT STORY "MISSING SINGNALS"

Kids are as following:

Emma (9)

Michael (5)

Brandon "Bran" (3)

Chapter 7:

The day of Michael's play had finally arrived. "Are you sure you are feeling alright?" Ruth asked Mary as she helped her inside the van. Mary nodded. She was about to burst but with David gone, the worst she could do was miss her son's play.

"Yes" Mary smiled tiredly as she looked at the back seat to make sure all three kids were inside "We are all set"

"Are Sean and Ashley meeting us there?" Ruth asked giving up the argument "I need some help taking out that wheelchair"

"Yes" Mary said frustrated by the mention of the vehicule she was now forced to depend on, she had already given birth to three children, she was not going to be lectured on how to take care of herself, although she did notice David's absence.

"Good" Ruth said and she started the engine. Once they arrived at school. Sean and Ashley where already waiting for them.

"Here" Sean helped Mary onto the chair "How are you feeling?" Mary turned to her son who was showing off his sword to Ashley and Alexandra.

"I'm fine" Mary said "I just want him to have fun, he's been so down ever since the play is been getting closer"

"He will" Sean assured her as he pushed the wheelchair ahead "He's so excited for me to record it so David can watch it"


"Hey!" Ray found David resting for a moment against a three trunk "What's going on?"

"Hey" David smiled at him "Just taking a moment to clear my head"

"You want to teach me how you manage that one?" Ray joked "I'd love to know"

"Well" David smile "It always helps to think in something funny or something that makes you happy"

"You sound like Peter Pan" Ray chuckled "But I get the concept, okay so what are you thinking about?"

"My kids" David said "Whenever I am tired they just make me feel so much better, no matter the mood I am in, they always manage to make me smile"

"Can I ask you something?" Ray said after a moment of watching David. "You said your kid is nine right?" David nodded "So you were a teenage dad?"

"Teenage dad? I wouldn't use that term but okay" David said amused "What about it?"

"I don't know" Ray said nostalgically "I wish my dad had been like that, at least he would have had time for me growing up"

David smiled sadly "You and him aren't close?"

"Nope" Ray sighed "Not even one bit, I was the last kid from his third marriage so by that time, he was pretty much fed up with being a dad"

"Sorry man" David said sympathetically placing a hand on his shoulder "My dad died when I was little so I never really got a chance to get to know him. That is why I want to be there for my kids, no matter what"


"Look at you!" Ashley clapped excitedly "So handsome!"

"Look mama!" Michael smiled as he stood in front of Mary and showed off his costume "I like my sword!"

"I know!" Mary pinched his cheek "Pretty cool huh?"

"Yep" Michael agreed. His teacher approached the family a moment later. It was time for the five year old to join his classmates.

"Good luck baby" Mary said as Michael planted a wet kiss on her cheek "Knock them dead, kay?"

"I will mommy" Michael beamed up at her. He turned to Sean to make sure he had the camera ready. Sean gave him thumbs up and the boy hurried down to the stage with the rest of his class.

"Doesn't he look dashing?" Ruth said proudly "I remember when you and David were in this play" Emma who had been quiet in her seat. Even a little anxious turned to Ruth.

"You and Dad did Snow White?" Emma asked surprised. Mary nodded.

"Wow! Bet you did kiss him on the play?" Ruby who was on her right side asked. Emma looked at her confused.

"Well" Mary chuckled at her excitement "We were a bit older than Michael, so yes, he did have to kiss me, and even though he had to kiss my cheek, he actually did kiss me for real" Emma's face lighted up and Ruby laughed.

"Oh" Ashley sat next to Mary holding Bran who had fallen asleep "I remember that too well"

"Oh no!" Sean begged getting the camera ready "Don't start with that again, David practically dragged me to the audition"

"Liar!" Ashley hissed at him "He did not! He knew you wanted to be in the play too, but he also knew Mary had been cast as Snow"

"So he joined the play just for you?" Ruby asked Mary Margaret "How romantic!"

"Yeah" Ashley remarked "And Sean was so jelous that he didn't speak to him for a whole week"

"Much like Alexandra is doing with Emma" Ruby pouted at her friend who sat rather far from them, even from her parents "I think she is mad at Emma's new best friend"

"August?" Ashley turned to check on her daughter "Well, there is nothing wrong with having other friends" Her mother's best friend bit her lip "Is he coming?"

"I duno know" Emma said blushing "I did invite him"

"What's going on?" Sean asked the others. The play should have started by now. Something wasn't right.

"I am sorry!" The heard the kindergarten teacher say on the microphone "It's seems like we are having some dificulties with one of our little actors"

"Please don't let it be Michael" Mary Margaret whispered as Sean shot her a puzzled look. Ruth was about to stand up.

"Sean" Ashley told her husband in a near hiss "Go, see what's going on"

"Why me?" Sean asked like a little kid. That look. "Okay!" He handed her the camera "Don't worry, I got it"

Sean hurried down to the stage "Mr. Herman?"

"Anything I can do?" The teacher nodded and pointed to the hall that lead backstage. Mary's assessment had been right. Michael sat there all suited up but unable to stop sobbing. "Hey buddy, what's going on? Your audience awaits"

"No" Michael said without looking up at his uncle "I don't want to play the prince anymore!"

"Why not?" Sean sat with his legs crossed in front of the toddler "What's wrong? You are going to do great!"

"Don't know all my lines!" Michael said madly "I won't go!"

"Mike, come on little guy, you did know your lines, I went over them with you, so did your Mom" Sean waited for the boy to say something. "Buddy?"

"I want daddy to come" There it was, the reason behind the stage fright. Sean leaned closer to him. "He's not here"

"I know" Sean said, his voice was breaking. He remembered the first time he had gone with David to sign up to join the army. He had done it to defy his stepfather and it was now costing him much more. "If he could be here, he would, trust me"

"What if I am not a good Prince?" Michael asked innocently making Sean smile

"How could you not be?" Sean said sweetly "Trust me kid, you were born to do this" Michael's smile returned to his face. "And you don't want to disappoint all the people that have worked so hard to make the play, do you?" Michael waved his head "There you are, and if you are worried about your dad not being here" Sean picked him up "He's, just here" he pointed at his heart "And you have me to record it all for when he comes home"

Michael bit his lip "Okay"

"So, you ready?" The little boy nodded excitedly "There we go" Sean hugged the boy close "Okay, prince coming right up!" And with that he put Michael down and hurried back to his seat. He didn't want to miss a thing.

"Is he okay?" Ashley asked when he returned "It was Michael wasn't it?"

"Yep, but he is fine now" Sean beamed at her "I worked some of my magic"

"Good" Ashley said "I bet he was just a bit nervous"

"He was" Sean agreed with a quick look in Mary's direction "And he misses David"

"Oh" Ashley said placing Bran against her shoulder "Poor thing"

"But" Sean said picking the camera back "All will be fine, I have faith in my brother"

"Yes" Ashley smiled "Me too"


Ray had come back to base after they had gone patrolling the area. There was no longer a camp. "What the hell happened?" He shot at one of his biddies "Where is everyone?"

"Don't know!" Marcus shot at him in pain as Ray helped him to safety "They just blew it up!"

"What?" Ray's voice was gone for a moment "You mean they are all dead?" Ray hurried inside of the destroyed building. Dust and dirt covered him instantly and the smell of blood and lifeless bodies made him dizzy. He searched for any sign of life. As he checked on every body he could for the light in their eyes he heard what seemed to be a cry.

David.


"Well" Ruth smiled as the audience stood up in ovation to the kids's work "That was interesting" The other laughed in delight. As soon as the courtain came down, all the five year old were scattered around looking for their parents.

"I did it!" Michael said exitedly jumping into Sean's arms "I did it!"

"That you did kid" Sean smiled getting a hold on him "And I have proof right here"

"Great job buddy" Mary said as Sean put Michael down "I am so proud of you and I am sure daddy is too" The grin on her son's face was more than enough for her. Suddenly a sharp pain made her body go numb.

"Mary?" Ashley's voice was alarmed "Are you okay?"

"I..." Mary couldn't seem to be able to speak "The baby... it's coming!"


OH OH! MISSED A LITTLE BIT OF AUGUST/EMMA FLUFF! WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?

STAY TUNED DEAR ONCERS!