I can't wait for this curse to break. Review! :)
Emma and Avia are in the kitchen eating cereal and watching the news when Mary Margaret comes running out the bathroom disheveled and with a toothbrush hanging out of her mouth. Avia and Emma couldn't help but laugh as they watch her frantically put her shoes and coat on before spitting into the sink.
"I can't believe I overslept." Mary Margaret groans.
Avia looks at the time. "If you overslept then I overslept, and it's only 7:10."
"Yeah. You have plenty of time to get to school." Emma adds.
"No, I have to be there at 7:15. Science fair. I'm helping the kids with their project before school." Mary Margaret rushes to the front door. "Do you mind taking Avia this morning."
"Of course. But I'm sure if you're five minutes late, they'll live."
"We're making a volcano." Mary Margaret says in all seriousness before walking out of the apartment.
"Has the science fair been going on all week?" Avia asks, placing her bowl in the sink. "Because she's been ditching me all week. I'm starting to feel rejected."
Emma smirks. "What, you don't like your big sister taking you to school?"
Avia rolls her eyes. "I like my big sister taking me to school. However, I don't like the sheriff taking me to school. Can we please drive in your car this time?"
"How about we walk?" Emma asks, amused. "I'll walk to work, and we can stop at Granny's on the way."
"But I just ate breakfast." Avia says, confused.
"Yeah, but you haven't had your hot chocolate."
Avia smiles. "You spoil me."
"Isn't that what big sisters are for?" Emma chuckles.
Mary Margaret is speed walking through town until she makes it to her destination. She slowly slips into Granny's Diner and takes her usual seat at a table, grabbing a book from her purse. She checks the time – 7:15. The bell above the door jingles as someone walks in. Mary Margaret quickly picks up the book and pretends to read while David walks passed her to the counter.
"One cream and sugar. One black." Ruby hands David his usual. Mary Margaret couldn't take her eyes off of him. She has been going to the diner early every morning just to see him, and she definitely wasn't going unnoticed. David would glance her way as well when she wasn't looking.
"Thank you." He says, paying for the coffees. He turns to Mary Margaret who has her nose back inside her book. "Good morning."
"Morning." Mary Margaret smiles as if this was her first time seeing him.
David stands silently awkward just looking at her with a small grin on his face. "Uh, I should go." He finally says. "I'm gonna be late for work."
"Oh, the animal shelter, right? How's that going?"
"Well, the apes haven't taken over." David jokes.
"Yet." Mary Margaret laughs.
"Not on my watch." He gives her one last smile before walking out. Mary Margaret watches David with sad eyes as he bends down at the open passenger door window and kisses Kathryn before handing her the coffee.
"This is making a volcano?" Emma interrupts.
Mary Margaret jumps at the familiar voice and finds Emma and Avia walking towards her. "Uh. I was – " Mary Margaret stutters. She had been caught. There was no denying it now.
Emma and Avia sit down at the table. "I get it."
Avia frowns. "I don't."
"He comes here every morning at 7:15 a.m. to get coffee." Mary Margaret explains.
"For him and his wife." Emma adds.
"I know, I know, I know." Mary Margaret groans. "I just like to…come here to see him."
"So, you're a stalker?" Avia assumes making Emma chuckle.
"No, not really." Mary Margaret frowns before really thinking about it. "Maybe a little bit. And it's not like I'm following him. I just know that he spends his mornings with Kathryn, gets his coffee, then drives to the animal shelter to start work at 7:30, and then he's home around 5:00."
Avia and Emma glance at one another, amused. "Oh, is that all?" Emma asks.
"Thursdays they pick up Chinese for dinner. I can't get him out of my head." Mary Margaret groans.
"I know. Maybe the first step is not showing up here tomorrow."
"Love's the worst. I wish there was a magic cure." Mary Margaret sighs. "So, I guess since you're here, I can take you to school now." She says to Avia.
Avia shrugs. "Why break routine? We can go look at the puppies. I can be your excuse." Avia grins.
Emma and Mary Margaret laugh. "Don't encourage her." Emma tells her.
Ruby sets down two to-go cups of hot chocolate on the table. "Come on, troublemaker." Mary Margaret grabs her things, wrapping her arm around Avia as they walk out of the diner.
The Enchanted Forest…
Snow is walking slowly through the forest, a spear held up high as she aims it for a turkey. But before she could throw it, the turkey flies away and Red steps into her view, startling her.
"Hey!" Ruby shouts out when she sees Snow aiming the spear her way. "It's me."
"Red." Snow groans.
"The spear, Snow." Red points to the spear that is still aimed at her.
"Oh. Sorry." Snow puts the spear down and walks towards her friend. "I wasn't expecting you for a month."
"It's been a month."
"Has it?" Snow asks, puzzled.
"You're really taking well to the solitude, aren't ya?"
"It's fine. It's exactly what I wanted, to be out here, away." Snow says, unconvincing.
"And that you are." Red hands over the basket of fruit and bread.
"Thank you. So, how are things back in the world?" Snow asks, nonchalantly.
Red rolls her eyes. "Come on. Ask what you really want."
"I don't know what you mean." Red narrows her eyes, knowingly. Snow sighs. "Okay, fine. Tell me."
Red stares sadly at her friend. "The wedding's happening." Snow is stunned. "Prince James is marrying Midas' daughter…in two days' time. You okay?"
Snow sighs, frustrated. "I just thought the longer I was out here, the easier it would be to forget him, but instead, all I do is think about him."
"I'm sorry." Red frowns, knowingly exactly how Snow was feeling.
"I wish there was a way to get him out of my head." Red looks down, and Snow could see that she knows something. "What?" Snow asks, intrigued. "Is there?"
"Of course not. I mean, that would – " Red says a little too quickly for Snow's liking, only making herself more suspicious.
Snow narrows her eyes. If there was something that could help her, then she wanted it – no, she needed it. "Red, what do you know?" Red sighs. "Come on." Snow says, sternly. "I helped you when no one else would. What do you know?"
"Well, there are whispers – " Red begins. " – whispers of a man who can achieve even the most unholy of requests, a man who can do what you ask."
"Who is this man?" Snow asks inquisitively.
It's a foggy night as Snow rows through the lake in search of the man Red informed her about. The man who could take her memories of Prince James away. Snow rows the boat to the dock, and steps off, tying the boat on the edge.
"How much for this?" Rumplestiltskin asks, startling Snow, while he sits in the boat.
"Excuse me?" She asks as she looks around, wondering where he had come from.
"Your boat. Exquisite craftsmanship." He smiles.
"It's not for sale." Snow glares.
"Of course it is, Dearie. No one comes to see me without a deal in mind."
Snow then realizes who he is from the description Red provided. "So, you're Rumplestiltskin."
"Indeed, I am." Rumple steps off the boat and stands in front Snow on the dock. "I've been looking forward to meeting you." Snow looks confused. "Ah." Rumple says in awe as he traces his fingers along her cheeks. "You really are the fairest of them all, aren't you? What can I do for you?"
"I need a cure."
"What ails you, Doll?"
"A broken heart."
"Ah, the most painful of afflictions. Well, I'm afraid if you want me to make him love you, no can do, and nothing can." Rumple states.
"No, that's not the problem. We can't be together."
"Well, that I can help you with." Rumple pulls out an empty vile, giggling. Snow furrows her brows as she watches him fill it with the water from the lake.
"That'll do it?" Snow asks.
"Not yet. No two loves are…exactly alike. We must make this…personal." He grins, ominously. Snow shrieks as Rumple pulls a thread hair from her head.
"So, if I drink that, I'll no longer love him?"
"The next time you see the object of your grief, you won't even remember who he is." Rumple grins.
"I won't remember him?" Snow asks, gravely.
"Love is the most powerful magic, so the cure must be extreme." He whispers.
"'Extreme' sounds like an understatement."
"Don't doubt yourself now, Dearie. Love makes us sick, haunts our dreams, destroys our days. Love has killed more than any disease. This cure is a gift."
Snow didn't like this, but she knew she had to do it. "What's your price?"
Rumple dangles the thread of hair up, teasingly. "This'll do."
"What do you need of my hair?" She asks, inquiringly.
"What do you need of it now it's been plucked from your head?" Rumple giggles menacingly. "Do we have a deal?" Snow continues to stare at the imp as she grabs the vile from him. "Ooh. I thought so. Drink it in good health…Snow White." Rumple walks away, fading into the fog.
Present…
Later that afternoon, Mary Margaret picked up Avia from school and decided that they should prepare for the big storm that was heading their way. Avia reluctantly went along wanting nothing more than just to go straight home. Since being back at school, it felt as if Avia was doing more work than she had before her accident. She thought they were supposed to be making it easier for her, but instead it seemed like they were just making it worse. The teachers and the guidance counselor put her on a slightly less hectic schedule than the rest of her classmates due to her accident. They would insist Avia work at a slower pace and would give her more time than the others to get to class. Avia hated the special treatment more than anything. But Mary Margaret promised it would be just for a few months so that they could all watch for any changes she may have before her six months check up with Dr. Whale who, if everything was okay, would give her the clear to continue how she did before everything that had happened.
Some days Mary Margaret would allow Avia to hang out with her friends after school or meet Emma at the station. But, today, since there is a storm heading their way, she didn't want Avia to be too far to reach. Plus, Emma had to prepare the town, so she was too busy to occupy her sister.
But Avia wasn't just annoyed that she had to walk the grocery store with Mary Margaret. She was annoyed because her headache was coming back, and it didn't seem like it was ever going away. Avia groans as she slowly trails behind Mary Margaret who is filling their basket up with the necessities like batteries and food. "I gave you your medicine an hour ago." Mary Margaret frowns, worried. "Your headache should be gone, or at least less painful."
Avia squeezes her eyes shut as she grabs her head. "But it's not." She whines.
Mary Margaret sighs. She felt terrible that Avia was still dealing with these headaches and there was nothing she could do about it except feed the teenager pills. "Okay. I think I read on the bottle that I could give you another if the headache doesn't subside. I'll double check as soon as we get back home. Just a couple more things." She promises. "How about you go and grab a couple of flashlights and meet me on the next aisle?" Avia simply nods and does what she's told as Mary Margaret turns down the next aisle and accidentally runs straight into Kathryn, David's wife. They both drop their baskets on the floor. "I'm so sorry!" Mary Margaret gasps.
"It's fine." Kathryn laughs. "Don't worry about it."
"I wasn't looking." They both bend down to pick up their things. "This must – " She freezes at the sight of a pregnancy test box.
"Mary Margaret, I got – " Avia stops behind Mary Margaret and looks down at what she's holding.
Mary Margaret stands back up, forcing a smile. "Good luck." She says, handing the box back to Kathryn.
"Thank you." Kathryn smiles, walking away.
"Are you okay?" Avia asks, looking up at her foster mother who clearly wasn't okay.
Mary Margaret exhales heavily, turning to her foster daughter. "Yeah." She smiles. "I'm okay. You found the flashlights?" Avia holds two of them up. "Good. Good. Let's get out of here." She quickly walks ahead of Avia as if nothing's wrong, but Avia could see right through her. She was devastated.
The Enchanted Forest…
Prince 'James' is standing out in his balcony, taking in the view as he stands deep in thought while a party is going on down below. King George walks into the room carrying a box, setting it down on the table. "James." He bellows, deeply.
James slowly turns from his place on the balcony and walks back into the room. "How goes the feast?" He asks.
"Your absence is felt. It is, after all, in your honor. I thought this might rouse you from your chamber." He opens the box, revealing a crown.
"You could feed the kingdom for an entire winter with that crown." James says, uninterested.
"It's a gift from King Midas, for you to wear as you marry his daughter. Once that is done, our new prosperity will allow us to feed the kingdom for all eternity." King George reminds him. "Show some enthusiasm."
"Enthusiasm wasn't part of the deal." James say dryly. "The wedding's in two days. I've honored your wishes."
"But I want your heart, not just your honor."
"My heart shall belong to Abigail."
"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" King George asks, coldly. "Your heart can't belong to Abigail when it's held by another woman, and don't deny it. I know that look. Who is she?"
"I met her on a journey. We haven't seen each other since, but she's stayed with me." James says, honestly, as he remembers Snow.
"Forget her." King George demands.
James scoffs, amused. "You speak as if that's so easy."
"Nobility was not meant to be easy. All this wealth, the power we hold over other men's lives – do you think that comes at no cost?"
"I asked for none of it."
"You were chosen to be my son, plucked from poverty, wanting for nothing. Be thankful for that."
"It wasn't charity, Father." James says bitterly. "It was the only way to save your kingdom."
"Watch yourself, boy." King George reprimands. "This is a choice you made, a role you have taken. Honor it. There is too much at stake. Do whatever it takes to get that woman out of your head, because nothing is going to stop this wedding."
King George storms out of the room. But there was no way James could forget the woman who holds his heart in her hands. He needed to do something before he was forever indebted to Princess Abigail, and he needed to do it now before it was too late. So, James hurries to his desk and begins to write a letter. "'Dearest Snow.'" He whispers. He continues to write before sending the letter off with bird to deliver. "Find her."
Present…
The next day, Mary Margaret was still having a tough time with what she saw yesterday at the market when she ran into Kathryn. She just kept thinking about how stupid she was being by going to the diner every morning just to see David when he was obviously moving on with his wife. They were trying to have a baby after all.
"You're not okay." Avia says from her seat at the counter. She had been watching Mary Margaret pace around the apartment all morning. Since last night Mary Margaret had been keeping to herself. She barely even said anything to Emma last night and this morning. She simply did her foster mother duties and kept quiet.
Mary Margaret forces a smile at her foster daughter. "Avia, I promise I'm fine. David has moved on, and I've realized that I need to, too. It is okay."
Avia grimaces. "You're not going to sleep with Dr. Whale again, are you?"
Mary Margaret frowns. "I am not discussing that with you, and no, I am not."
Avia sighs, relieved. "So, where are you going?" She asks as she watches Mary Margaret put her rainboots on along with her coat.
"We need to stock up on water just in case this storm is worse than they say. We're running low."
"I'm sure Emma can pick some up on her way back."
Mary Margaret shakes her head, disagreeing. "Emma has too much on her plate already as she prepares the town. I can go and get it. You stay put and rest. I won't be long." Avia just nods and watches as her foster mother leaves the apartment.
But Avia couldn't just stay put and rest while Emma and Mary Margaret are scavenging through town. She picks up the cordless phone and dials the familiar number.
"Hello?" Nick answers.
"Meet me outside in ten." Avia hangs up. She grabs her coat and shoes and runs out of the apartment.
On her way to the market, Mary Margaret decided to take a detour through the woods, hoping to clear her head when suddenly a 'coo' of a dove grabs her attention. She scowls at the frantic fluttering she can hear from down below the hill and sets out to find it. When she reaches the bottom she gasps, finding the dove trapped inside of a net.
"Hey!" She exclaims softly. "How did you manage to get yourself caught up in this. Come on." She reaches in and grabs the dove before running back up the hill.
"This is a bad idea." Nick whispers to Avia as they walk inside of the animal shelter.
"It's not." Avia whispers back. "It's obvious they both want to be with each other. It's not just a coincidence that he goes into the diner at the same time every morning when Mary Margaret is there."
"He's married." Nick reminds her.
"So?" Avia shrugs. "People get divorced all the time. He doesn't love her."
Nick scowls. "How do you know? He must love her if they are having a baby."
Avia rolls her eyes as she looks at the kennel of dogs. She frowns at how lost and frightened they look. "It was just a test. No one said it was positive."
"Yet."
"Avia. Nick." The kids jump at the sound of David's voice. They look up to find him smiling at them as he walks towards them. "What brings you two here?"
Avia shrugs, sheepishly. "Just curious. I've never been in here before, so Nick offered to show me around. There's still a few places around here I haven't been to yet."
"She really loves animals." Nick adds, timidly.
David grins. "So do I."
"No one's claimed them?" Avia asks, looking sadly at the dogs that are locked inside of their kennels, whimpering as they look up at her with sad puppy eyes.
David sighs, shaking his head. "Not yet."
"Maybe you could talk Miss. Blanchard into getting one." Nick smirks.
Avia rolls her eyes. "I think fostering me is good enough. I don't want a dog if I have to leave it." David frowns at this, biting his tongue to keep himself from commenting. "Do you have any pets?" She asks David.
"No. Not yet anyway. Maybe one day." David smiles.
"Do you want kids first?" She asks curiously.
David furrows his brows at the question, taken aback by Avia's bluntness. "Uh. Well – "
"Pets are good practice, you know? I mean, kids and a dog are completely different, but you find out how truly difficult it is to take care of another breathing thing that isn't yourself. It can be a lot of work if you're not ready for it."
David smirks. "Well, - "
"David." Mary Margaret runs in, panicked.
David looks up, startled. "Mary Margaret?" He runs over to her. "What's wrong?"
Avia and Nick run up next to them, looking down at the dove. "I found her in the woods tangled up in a net. I need you to take a look at her." She takes a double take at Avia. "Didn't I tell you to stay home and rest?"
Avia smiles, guilty. "I needed a walk?" She shrugs.
"I'll get the vet." David walks to the back.
"What are you doing here?" Mary Margaret whispers firmly to the kids.
"Trying to get information for you." Avia whispers back.
"I told her it was a bad idea." Nick says, putting his hands up in defense.
Mary Margaret sighs. "I don't need you to get information for me, Avia. I already have it. We are moving on."
Avia points to the dove in Mary Margaret's hands. "It doesn't look like it to me."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means take this as a sign. This bird was brought to you for a reason. You're supposed to be with David."
Mary Margaret closes her eyes, shaking her head. She did not have time for this right now. "Home." She says, sternly. "Now. Both of you."
Avia rolls her eyes. "Fine." She groans. "Come on, Nick." Mary Margaret watches the kids walk out of the shelter and looks back down at the dove, stroking it gently.
"Well, the good news is no broken bones." The vet informs Mary Margaret after checking over the dove. David smiles reassuringly at Mary Margaret who looks away, focusing back on the vet, trying her best to ignore David's staring eyes. "She was just a little dehydrated, but I got her some fluids, and she should be just fine."
"And the bad news?" Mary Margaret scowls.
"Well, this is a North Atlantic Dove. It's a migratory species, very unique among American doves." He explains. "Now they tend to form strong monogamous bonds, meaning – "
"If I don't get her back to her flock, she'll be alone forever." Mary Margaret finishes, glancing at David.
"Well, it's a long shot, but the alternative, she'll heal, but she won't be happy here." The vet says, placing the dove in a cage.
"I'll take my chances. Thank you, Doctor." She says appreciatively.
"You're welcome. Good luck." He says, walking away.
"Mary Margaret, there's a storm coming." David says concerned over Mary Margaret going back into the woods by herself. "You really shouldn't go out there.
"Well, the storm's coming tomorrow, and if I wait, she could be lost forever, completely alone." Mary Margaret looks down at the dove, unhappily. "No one deserves that."
"Then let me drive you." David insists.
"I don't need your help, David. I'll be fine." David sighs as he watches Mary Margaret walk out.
In town, Emma is busy loading the cop car with the necessities she'll need for the storm as she listens to the news over the radio.
"'Storybrooke is seeing wind gusts of up to six miles an hour.'" The man over the radio announces. "'Your best bet is to stay in the house – '"
"Need help?" Avia asks as she and Nick approach Emma.
Emma glares at her sister. "Why are you out here? Where's Mary Margaret?"
"She's at the animal shelter. We just left from there."
"What is she doing at the animal shelter – stalking David?" Emma chuckles.
Avia exhales. "No. Apparently she's over him which I don't believe, but she found a hurt bird in the woods and brought it in."
"Why was she in the woods?" Emma asks, peeking out from the trunk.
Avia shrugs. "Beats me. She said she was going to get water when she left earlier. She hasn't been herself, obviously."
Emma sees that Avia's worried. "Hey. Mary Margaret is strong. She'll be okay." She says, giving Avia an encouraging smile.
"What are you doing out here?" They all turn to find an angry Regina coming their way. "There is a storm coming! Miss. Swan – "
"Hey." Emma interrupts. "If you're looking to blame me for the storm, I think you're taking things a bit far now. As for them – " Emma nods her heads towards the two teens. " – they showed up on their own."
Avia rolls her eyes. "The storm isn't even set to hit until tomorrow."
"Either way, you both should be inside." Regina glares at her son.
"Fine." Nick huffs.
"And walk Avia home."
Avia looks at Regina in awe. "Oh, and her heart grew three sizes that day." She says sarcastically earning a laugh from Emma and Nick.
However, Regina was not amused. "I just rather you not slip and crack your head open in my town, or on my watch."
Avia puts her hand over her heart, smiling up at Regina. "She cares! Everyone, she cares!" Avia shouts, laughing hysterically as Nick pushes her away.
"Your sister is a nuisance." Regina glares at the oldest Swan.
Emma simply smiles. "Runs in the family, apparently. What can I do for you, Regina?" She asks, sensing there was as reason for her little visit other than to reprimand her son.
"I need you to look into something, Sheriff. Someone's in town – someone new." Regina says, peeved. She saw the man on the motorcycle this morning and she didn't care for the strange vibe he had given her when he grinned at her.
"Yeah, I know. I gave him directions to Granny's the other night."
"You talked to him?" Regina raises her brows, interested. "What'd he say?"
"He asked for directions. What's the big deal? Who is he?"
"I don't know. I asked around, but no one seems to know anything. There's something about him —something familiar. So, I need you to find out who he is, what he wants, and what he's doing here."
"You know, as hard as you tried to find one in my case, there is no law against visiting Storybrooke." Emma informs the mayor.
"This isn't about the law, Miss. Swan. You're gonna do this because I asked you to – " Emma rolls her eyes, slamming the trunk closed. " – and because you know it's the right thing to do."
Emma sighs. "Fine. I'll look into him." She gets into the car, driving away.
On their way back to the apartment, the man from the other night is parked on the side of the road fixing his bike.
"Who is that?" Avia asks Nick.
Nick shrugs. "No idea."
"Hi." Avia smiles, greeting the man with a small wave.
The man glances up at the two kids, smiling slightly. "Hello."
"You're new here." Avia states matter-of-factly.
"Indeed."
"Me, too!"
Nick rolls his eyes. "Like two months ago." Avia nudges him in the side. "What's that?" Nick asks, pointing to the large box sitting on the back of the man's motorcycle.
"A box."
"What's inside it?"
"Just something I need to do what I came here for."
"You're very cryptic." Avia says, intrigued by this man.
Suddenly a loud 'boom' from the thunder causes the kids to jump. The man again grins. "Better get home. Don't wanna get wet."
They watch as he starts his bike and rides off. "Strange." Nick grimaces.
"Cool." Avia smiles.
Back in the woods, Mary Margaret is in her car now, driving down the trail, and looking up at the sky as thunder crashes. She was hoping the storm waits a little longer for her to set the dove free.
The Enchanted Forest…
Snow is staring longingly at the vile that Rumplestiltskin had given her. She was contemplating if she should take it or not, regardless of the fact that she was really hurt. But did she really want to forget about James? Would it really make things easier?
Before she could decide, though, a bird lands right on her hand, dropping a note in her palm. It flies away as Snow opens the letter, reading it. It's from Prince 'James.'
"'Dearest Snow, I have not heard from you since our meeting and can only assume you found the happiness you so desired. But I must let you know not a day goes by that I've not thought of you. In two days' time, I'm to be married. Come to me before then. Come to me and show me you feel the same, and we can be together forever and if you don't, I'll have my answer.'"
A single tear falls from Snow's green eye as she sighs in not only happiness, but relief, to know that he feels the same as she does.
Present…
Mary Margaret continues to drive along the trail until she reaches a point in the road that is closed. So, she decided the only way to get the dove back to where he belongs is for her to walk him herself.
"Well, the flock can't be much farther." She says as she glances up at the sky where the storm is loudly brewing. "We just have to beat the storm. They're waiting for you." She tells the dove as she grabs the cage and jumps out of her car.
The Enchanted Forest…
Snow made her way to Prince James' palace where the entire kingdom is preparing for the big wedding. She pretends to be the help, carrying a basket of flowers through the crowd.
"Flowers for Prince James from the kingdom of Midas." She says to the coordinator of the wedding.
"Top of the northeast spire." He looks down at his list and then he looks Snow up and down, suspiciously. Fortunately, there was no time to question her, especially since she looked the part. "Take the service stairwell, or the guards will toss you over the walls."
Snow nods gratefully and continues further inside.
Snow hurries into Prince James' room, dropping the basket of flowers. She was heading for the balcony until footsteps from outside startled her to hide behind a pillar. Snow watches James walk by. But before she could follow, a hand covers her mouth and yanks her away.
Down in the dungeon, with much struggle, the guard tosses Snow into a cell.
"Wait!" She exclaims, furiously. "I'm a royal emissary."
The guard grabs Snow's note, not believing her. "Sure, you are. The king will decide your fate." He locks the cell and walks away.
Snow tries with all the strength that she could muster up to open the cell, but it wasn't budging. She looks around to find some sort of way out, or some sort of way to break the lock. Little did she know, though, was that someone else was accompanying the cell next to her. He begins to whistle, grabbing her attention, as he steps in her view. "Who's there?"
"What are you looking at, Sister?" The short man asks with a tight glower upon his face. Snow looks away. She didn't have time for distractions. She walks to the cell door to fiddle with the lock. "Steel gets stronger as we grow weaker.
"I am not giving up."
"Give it time…Grumpy."
Snow sighs. "I'm not grumpy. I'm focused."
"No. My name – Grumpy. I'm telling you, there's no way out."
"Well, I'm Snow, and I'll find one." She says, determined, dropping the lock.
"If you say so."
She looks around the cell before dropping to the ground, searching around in the straw of hay. "There's someone out there for me. Someone I love very much, and I will not lose him."
"Love, huh?" Grumpy scoffs. "Good luck with that."
"Yeah? Well, what do you know about it?"
"It's why I'm stuck in this hole."
"Ugh!" Snow groans, falling onto the floor, frustrated.
"I had it bad." He says. "She was beautiful as a fairy, but I lost her. I was desperate to get her back. So, I came up with a plan." Snow looks up at the man, intrigued by his story. "I worked at the Diamond Mines. Traded all my wages to the foreman for a diamond to propose. But I got swindled. It was a stolen rock, and I took the blame. I'm not thief, but they think I am. Should've known better, but I wasn't thinking clearly. All cause of love." Snow frowns, knowing exactly how he is feeling. "And now here I am, trapped, with no way out."
"I know a way out." A man's voice echoes. They both look passed their cell as a man tip toes to their cell. He pulls down his mask and smiles widely at Grumpy.
"Stealthy!?" Grumpy exclaims.
"You ready to go home?" Stealthy asks, unlocking Grumpy's cell.
"How'd you get in here?" Grumpy laughs.
"Doc whipped up a sleeping gas, knocked all the guards out cold. The rest are waiting with transport."
"There's more of you?" Snow asks, amused.
Stealthy looks at Snow in awe. "Who's that? She's pretty."
"No one." Grumpy glares. "Come on. Let's go!" He says impatiently as he and Stealthy walk away, but stop midway when Snow calls out to Grumpy.
"Grumpy." Snow calls out, kindly. "Good luck. I hope you get your love back."
And that's when Grumpy knew he couldn't leave her behind. "Give me that." He gestures to the keys in Stealthy's hand. He walks to Snow's cell and unlocks it. Snow smiles in disbelief at his kindness despite his grumpiness. "Come on."
Present…
"Emma, no, she still isn't back yet." Avia says to her sister over the phone. "And the storm is going to start soon. Emma, you're supposed to be the sheriff!" She shouts, irritated. "Ugh! Fine." Avia hangs up and grabs the phone book. She wasn't sure why she was so worried about Mary Margaret. At any other foster home Avia would be thrilled to have the place to herself. But for some reason she just couldn't stop thinking about Mary Margaret. This woman has dropped everything to take care of her these last couple of months. If something happens to her — no. She couldn't think the worse. She couldn't be selfish right now. Avia lets out a long breath when she finally finds the number she was searching for, and quickly dials it.
"Storybrooke's Animal Shelter." David's voice answers.
"David?" Avia shouts.
"Avia?" David furrows his brows, recognizing the girl's voice.
"I know this is completely random, but you are the last person I saw her with!"
"Avia, wha – "
"Mary Margaret has been gone for a really long time. And I know she went over there because of the bird she found. But she hasn't come home, or checked in, and the storm is about to start. Emma can't leave what she is doing is right now because of her stupid sheriff duties even though having my foster mother missing, I think, is more important than some stupid storm. She isn't answering her cell phone! I would go out there and look myself, but what if she is completely fine and I find her, and she gets upset because I'm out there instead of at home, resting, which she told me specifically to do. I just don't want something to happen to her. I can't go back. I – "
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" David interrupts. "Avia, slow down. I'm sure Mary Margaret is fine. She went to return the dove back to its flock. But how about I go out there and look for her?"
"Okay." Avia mumbles. "Thanks."
"I'll get her back to you." David smiles, hanging up. He grabs his jacket and runs out of the shelter.
Mary Margaret runs down the trail, hearing a flock of doves in the distance. "Do you hear that?" She asks excitingly to the dove that's still in the cage. "Your flock." She reaches the top of the hill and is astounded by what she sees below. Overturn trees are covering the ground below. Suddenly a loud thunder claps causing Mary Margaret to jump and lose her footing at the edge of the dirt hill. "Ah!" She yells out, falling to the ground. She begins to tumble all the way down until she reaches a cliff. But before she can fall to her death, Mary Margaret grabs onto a large root, and begins to dangle from the cliff. "AH!" She screams. She looks down as rocks fall down into the small river below. Unfortunately, the root that she is holding on to is slowly coming out of the ground. Mary Margaret continues to scream until a hand covers her hand that is gripping the root.
"Here!" David falls down to the ground, and starts to lift Mary Margaret back onto solid ground.
"David!" Mary Margaret shouts, surprised to see him. "But, how – "
"Avia." David grins. Mary Margaret pants, out of breath. "You okay?" He asks, worried.
"I'm fine, thanks. She shouldn't have called you." She says, walking away.
David scowls. "I'm glad that she did. She was worried, and so was I. Where are you going?" He shouts as she runs up the hill after her.
"I came to the find the flock!"
"And I came here to get you before you got hurt!" The rain begins to pelt down on them. "We have to go!" Mary Margaret runs to the cage. "Doing this on foot is not the best plan."
"The gate was closed."
"I know. I saw. It's too late." David tells her as the rain continues to heavily fall down on them. "We have to go."
"No, but the bird – "
"Mary Margaret, it's not safe. We need to get out of here. Come on." He quickly leads her down the trail.
The Enchanted Forest…
Snow, Grumpy, and Stealthy are walking quickly through the dungeon trying to find a way out before the guards wake up.
"Oh, wait, wait." Snow whispers. "Stairs."
"No, we sneak out through the courtyard." Stealthy whispers.
"No, it's safer if we climb over the curtain wall. Trust me, hiding from royals is my life."
"But the courtyard is clear now, but it won't be for much longer."
Grumpy scowls at Snow. "Sorry, lady. Stealthy got me this far." The two run off, leaving Snow behind.
Grumpy and Stealthy make their way into the empty courtyard. They're almost out until -
"Halt!" A guard shouts, stopping them. Grumpy and Stealthy turn to find a handful of guards and King George walking towards them. "Those two are prisoners." A guard says.
"Grumpy, run. We can make it." Stealthy begins to make a run for it.
"Stealthy, no!" A guard from above shoots an arrow right into Stealthy's chest, killing him instantly. "No!" Grumpy shouts, falling down at Stealthy's lifeless body.
"Where is the girl?" King George demands.
"What girl?" Grumpy glares.
"Kill him." King George orders the guard.
The guard pulls out his sword, but before he can connect it into Grumpy's neck, Snow jumps out. "Looking for me? Let him go – " Snow holds up the sizzling torch. " – or this place will burn." She threatens.
"Begone, dwarf." King George dismisses Grumpy, but Grumpy was reluctant to leave Snow on her own after she just helped him.
"Go, Grumpy." Snow insists.
A guard kicks him down giving him no choice by to run out of the courtyard. "Now, Snow White. We need to talk."
Present…
The storm was getting heavier as David and Mary Margaret attempt to make their way out of the woods. But, unfortunately, it was becoming unbearable and they needed to find a way to wait it out. David, thankfully, spots a cabin.
"There!" He points. "Come on." He leads Mary Margaret to the cabin. "Hello?" They both call out in hopes that someone is inside and will let them in until the rain clears.
They both look through the windows. "It's empty." Mary Margaret notices.
David kicks the door in and they quickly get inside, soaking wet from top to bottom, shivering from the cold, and seeing that the cabin is in fact empty.
So, while waiting for the rain to clear, David and Mary Margaret decided to make themselves comfortable. David was able to start a fire in the fireplace to hopefully warm them up. "Okay." He sighs. "Let's get you dry." He goes off to look for a blanket or towels.
"Whose cabin is this?" Mary Margaret wonders. "Are you sure it's okay for us to be in here?"
"Well, your roommates with the sheriff, so I doubt she'll arrest us for breaking and entering."
"Oh, shoot. I need to call Avia." Mary Margaret searches her pockets for her phone. She exhales, frustrated. "I left my phone in my car." She realizes.
David digs in his pocket, sighing. "Seems I did, too." He grabs a blanket he found and wraps it over Mary Margaret's shoulders. "Here." Mary Margaret shoves it off, though. What happened yesterday at the market was clearly still bothering her and having David there was not making it better. "Hey, I'm just trying to help." Mary Margaret nods, understanding, but she still looked as if she was on the verge of breaking down. "What's going on with you today?" He asks, bewildered by her attitude.
"What's going on?" Mary Margaret crosses her arms. "What's going on is I still have feelings for you." She admits.
"What?" David asks, taken aback.
"Why do you think I go to Granny's every morning at 7:15?" She says, looking up at David, heartbroken. "It's to see you. And I don't know why because it just makes me miserable, because every time I see you, it just reminds me that you chose Kathryn instead of me. And that's why I didn't want you to come to the woods with me. Because being around you is too…" Mary Margaret sighs, heavily. "…it's too painful." David chuckles. "You think this is funny?"
"No." David shakes his head. "No, it's just the reason I go to Granny's every morning at 7:15 is to see you." He admits, surprising Mary Margaret.
They stare longingly at one another, slowly moving closer. But before David can reach her lips, Mary Margaret pulls away. "How can you do this?" She exasperates.
"What are you talking about?"
"David, I know."
"You know what?" David asks, confused.
"About Kathryn."
But David was still not understanding. "What about Kathryn?"
"That she thinks she's pregnant."
"What?" He gasps.
Because Emma had been working practically all day to prepare for this storm, she barely had time to sit down, or even eat. So, Emma walks into Granny's Diner before heading back finds the man from the motorcycle sitting alone in a booth and figures this was her chance to talk to him.
"We need to talk." She says as she approaches the man.
"Why?" He grins.
Emma glances down at the box on the floor as she stands in front of him. "Because you're suspicious.
"Sitting here? Out in the open, drinking coffee?" Emma glares, unamused by his sarcasm. "Wonder what kind of hell I would've raised had I ordered a doughnut."
"Your mysterious box – what's in it?"
"It's awfully frustrating not knowing, isn't it?" He asks sarcastically.
"Just tell me." Emma glares, annoyed.
"Why? Is it illegal to carry around a box in these parts?"
"No, of course it's not."
"You really wanna know what's inside it, don't you?" He asks, seeing the frustration and determination in Emma's eyes.
Emma scoffs. "No." The man narrows his eyes, knowingly. "Well, maybe." Emma sits in the booth across from him.
"I'm gonna make you wait. You're gonna have to wait a long time and watch me carry it around, hauling it to strange and mysterious places. And with each passing moment, the mystery will become more tantalizing. Your imagination will inflame, but so will your frustration, never knowing, only guessing what could possibly be inside that box? Or you could let me buy you a drink sometime, and I'll tell you right now."
Emma kinks an eyebrow. "You wanna buy me a drink?"
"Yes." The man smirks.
"Okay. A drink it is." He picks up the box and sets it on the table, opening it, revealing an old typewriter. "Really?" She asks, puzzled.
"I'm writer." He tells her.
"That's why you're here?"
"I find this place provides inspiration. Don't you?"
The bell above the door causes Emma to look away just as the man shuts the box closed. "Avia?" She frowns, seeing her sister.
Avia walks up, out of breath, stripping off her wet coat. "I was hoping I'd find you here." She eyes the man curiously. "You." She grins.
"Daughter?" He asks Emma.
"Sister." Emma answers. "You two know each other?"
The man smiles. "We met briefly." He stands from the booth, carrying the box with him.
"Wait. Have you been here before?" Emma asks. She wasn't done talking to him. She had more questions.
"I didn't say that." He drops cash onto the table and walks away.
Avia falls into his place in the booth. "What about that drink?" Emma asks him, turning in her seat to look at him.
He looks over his shoulder at her. "I said 'sometime.'" He says as he continues walking away.
Emma shakes her head, bewildered by this stranger, and turns back to face her sister. "So, did you find out who he is?" Avia asks.
"Not really" Emma exhales, peeved. "When did you meet him?"
"Earlier today when I was going back to the apartment. He was parked out front, fixing his bike. I asked him what was in his box, but he wouldn't tell me. Did he tell you?"
"It's just an old typewriter. Nothing exciting. Weird. But nothing exciting."
Avia frowns. "Well, that sucks. A typewriter? Does anyone in this town know what a laptop is?"
Emma chuckles. "So, why are you here? You shouldn't be out in this storm."
Avia sighs. "I couldn't stay in that apartment by myself any longer. I was going crazy."
"Was?" Emma kinks her eyebrow earning a glare from her sister. "Mary Margaret still hasn't made it home?" She asks in disbelief. She hasn't known Mary Margaret for very long, but this just didn't seem like her.
"No. But don't worry, I left a note just in case she makes it back before we do. I called David and he said that she was bringing the dove back to its flock, or something, in the woods. I don't know." Avia shrugs. "But he said he was going to go and find her."
"Well, I'm sure that's not going to end well. Did you eat yet?"
"And risk burning down the apartment? No."
Emma smirks. "Well, me either. Let's eat then we'll head back home."
Back at the cabin, David was still staring at Mary Margaret in disbelief and confusion, and that's when Mary Margaret realized...
"You didn't know." She whispers.
David shakes his head. "No."
"And you two aren't trying."
"Not as far as I know. Mary Margaret, you have to believe me. I – "
"Shh. David." Mary Margaret looks outside. "The rain stopped. I need to get her out." Mary Margaret grabs the cage and runs to the door.
"No, Mary Margaret – " David sighs, following her. "Mary Margaret, please, can we at least talk – "
"Shh! Listen." She looks up, hearing the doves above, flapping their wings as they fly around. "The flock – it didn't leave." She says, relieved, smiling widely up at the sky.
"They must have been waiting for the storm to clear."
Mary Margaret sets the cage down and carefully picks up the dove. "Okay." She says calmly to the dove. "Okay, girl. Time to join your friends. You can do it." She tosses the dove into the air and they watch, overjoyed, as she joins her flock. David slowly grabs Mary Margaret's hand, but she moves away. "No, David, it's too painful." She tells him.
David sighs. "It doesn't have to be. We don't know Kathryn's pregnant."
"It doesn't matter. You chose her."
"I know. But I still have feelings for you."
"You can't have both."
"But I do have both. I know it doesn't make sense. I mean, it's like I have these two conflicting lives – memories of feelings for her and real feelings for you."
"Who's to say which is real?"
"I can't get you out of my head."
"I know. Me, too, but – we're going to have to. We're just going to have to forget each other." Mary Margaret walks away, leaving David speechless. He didn't want to forget her. He didn't want to have to do the right thing by his wife. He didn't want any of this, and he had no idea how to fix it.
The Enchanted Forest…
"So, you're the one." King George has Snow's face in his hand, studying her features in disgust as he nudges her away.
"I don't know what you're – "
"Enough." He interrupts, showing her the letter. "I know everything. You poisoned his heart, now his marriage. And with that, the entire kingdom, all because of your feelings."
"I wish feelings could be helped, but they can't." Snow tells him.
"Of course they can." King George sneers. "Love is a disease, and like all diseases, it can be vanquished in one of two ways – a cure or death." He says bitterly. "Do you know where your beloved is right now? He's right down that hallway packing for his new life." He points.
"And he'll never know I'm here." Snow says, following his gaze.
King George chuckles. "Oh, yes, he will, because you are going to walk down that hallway, Snow White. You're going to sneak in and tell him you received his letter. You're going to tell him why you're here – because you don't love him." Snow listens intently with tears forming in her green eyes. "It'll break his heart, and that will cure him."
"Or you'll kill me." Snow assumes.
"Oh, no. I'll kill him." King George smiles darkly as Snow scowls in disgust. "Killing you would just make him love you more. And the marriage, and the kingdom would ultimately crumble, but if he were to die at an assassin's hand, he would die a martyr. Midas would forgive, even laud, the death, and the merger would be complete." He manipulates.
"You would do that your own son?" Snow exasperates.
"He is not my son." King George seethes, surprising Snow.
Snow opens James' door and peeks her head in only to find him packing a bag. She walks all the way in and just stands near the door, taking his presence in before letting her own presence known. He's just how she remembered, and it was killing her inside to know that soon she will forget his face.
Snow closes the door causing James to look her way. He could honestly say he was surprised to see her there. He wasn't expecting her to show. They stare longingly at one another, neither one saying a word while Snow walks closer to him.
"James." She nods at him.
"Snow." He says, relieved.
"I got your letter."
"You came." He smiles. "You came." He rushes to her, picking her up in his arms and hugging her close. Snow wraps her arms around his neck dreading what was to come. Feeling him once again was making this whole thing unbearable to do. He sighs happily into the crook of her neck. Snow forces her tears in as he sets her down, knowing she had to stay strong as she breaks his heart, along with her own. "You came."
James leans in for a kiss, but Snow pushes him away. "Wait, James. Us…it can't happen."
James furrows his brows, confused. "What's wrong? Of course it can. You're here. We can go. We can be together. We can leave all this. I know there are costs." He holds tight to her hands, pleading. "I know there are costs. But I've planned for everything. They can't hurt us." But Snow just looks at him, knowing that's not true. "And now that I know that you love me too – "
"I don't." She interrupts.
"What?"
"Love you. I don't." She reluctantly disagrees even though everything inside of her was screaming to run away with him, but she also couldn't let King George kill him either. And watching James' face fall in despair was more heartbreaking than anything. "I'm sorry. You said I would always be in your heart, and that is too cruel a fate. Go live your life. Live it without me, because there is no place for us together." She lies as she watches a single tear fall from her charming's eye. "And fill your heart with love for someone else. Someone who can love you the way I never have, the way I never will." Snow hands James' his letter back and walks away, finally letting herself cry.
Present…
David made it home and was changing out of his wet clothes with Mary Margaret's words still reeling in his head. Kathryn walks into their bedroom, letting out a long sigh as she sits down on the bed.
"Anything you wanna tell me?" He asks.
"What do you mean?" Kathryn mumbles.
"Something's up, isn't it?" David frowns seeing the agony on his wife's face. "What?"
"I feel like ever since you've come home, you're here but you're not…here." She admits. David finishes buttoning up his shirt, choosing not to comment because he knows it's true. "I know you say you're trying, and I know you've been through a lot, but – "
"No, no, Kathryn – " David tries to interrupt.
"No, David, please, just let me finish." She begs. He gestures for her to continue. "I know it's been hard on you, but it's also been hard on me. I want a family with you someday. I want children. I'll be honest. I thought I was pregnant. And when the test came back negative, at first, I was upset, but then I was relieved. We're not ready. If I was pregnant now, it would be a disaster."
"Yeah." David agrees.
"But I wanna fix this. I wanna fix us."
"Me, too."
"Do you?" She questions. "Well, then let's go see Dr. Hopper. Let's get some help. Will you do that? Will you give us our best shot?"
"Yeah." David forces himself to say. He sits down next to Kathryn. "Look, you and I, I know we're s – I know we should be in love. And I wanna make that work." Kathryn smiles and leans in, hugging David who still had only one person on his mind… Mary Margaret.
The Enchanted Forest…
Snow is dragging herself through the woods with tears streaming down her face. Unbeknown to her, Grumpy and his six friends, the dwarves, begin to gather around, following her.
"Are you okay, sister?" Grumpy asks.
Snow looks around at the dwarves, only making herself cry more. "Not even close."
"You didn't find him?"
"Worse. I lost him." She looks down as Grumpy grabs onto her hand.
"Come on." He says with a nod.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Home. We all lost someone today. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you, so you're coming home with us, Snow, and we're gonna protect you."
"The only thing that needed protecting is destroyed – my heart." She sobs.
"It will get better." Grumpy assures her.
Snow stops, remembering the vile she received from Rumplestiltskin. She pulls it from her vest. "Yes." She says, knowingly. "This will take all of my feelings, all of my pain and destroy them."
But before she can put the vile to her lips, Grumpy snatches it away. "No."
"Why? You of all people should understand. You've lost love. What if your pain could be erased?" Snow tempts.
"I don't want my pain erased. As wretched as it is, I need my pain." Grumpy stresses. "It makes me who I am. It makes me Grumpy." Snow smiles softly at the realization. "Look around, Snow. You're not alone anymore. I promise you, that's all the cure you need. If the pain's too much, you can always drink it, but for today, put it away."
"Okay." Snow grabs the vile and places it back into her vest. She grabs onto Grumpy's hand again and they along, with the six other dwarves, walk home – together.
Present...
Mary Margaret is sitting at her kitchen table, absentmindedly fiddling with her ring, sliding it around and around her finger as she stares at the clock on her wall that reads 7:15. Usually, at this time, she would be at the diner – with David.
Avia and Emma sit across from her to eat their breakfast. She hadn't said a word to the two girls since she arrived back home last night. Mary Margaret simply walked into the house while the girls were sitting on the couch and headed straight into her bedroom to lay down. They hated seeing their foster mother and roommate in this state. It was far from the happy go lucky Mary Margaret they've grown to know and love.
But without discussion, without even a glance at one another, Emma and Avia continue eating their breakfast and reach out, taking Mary Margaret's hands into their own. Mary Margaret smiles softly, squeezing their hands, comfortingly.
The Enchanted Forest…
Charming is riding his horse through the fielded woods, calling out for Snow. "Snow!" He shouts eagerly. "Are you there?"
"She's gone." Charming turns around to find Red walking towards him. "She never came back after she went to find you." She tells him.
"Then I'll find her." He says, determined. Red smiles, glad to see that one of them wasn't giving up. "I will always find her."
At the dwarves' home, Grumpy runs into the house. "Where's Snow?" He asks Doc. "Where is she?" Doc points to across the room. Grumpy runs through the rooms to get to Snow. "Snow!" He shouts. "Snow! The royal wedding – the kingdom's abuzz." Snow is laying in bed, staring blankly at Grumpy when he runs in. "It's off, Snow. He left her. James left Abigail! Do you hear me? Your Prince Charming isn't getting married."
"Who?" Snow smiles, bemused.
Grumpy frowns, noticing the empty vile next to the bed.
Present…
"Thanks, Ruby." Mary Margaret smiles softly to her friend who hands her a cup of coffee. The bell jingles and Mary Margaret turns to find David walking in. But as fast as he walked in, he was turning around, walking out. Mary Margaret furrows her brows and chases after him. "What are you doing?" She calls out to him.
David turns around. "It's 7:45."
"I know."
"Well, I'm trying not to see you."
"Well, I am trying not to see you." Mary Margaret strains.
"Well, how do we stop seeing each other?" David asks.
"Apparently, we can't."
"This is a problem."
"Yes." Mary Margaret agrees.
"She's not pregnant." David pants heavily, unable to break away from Mary Margaret's ready eyes.
And before either one could say anything more, they lean in, pressing their lips passionately on another's. And while their full on make-out session is happening in the middle of the street, Regina is glaring angrily at the two from the inside of her car, realizing she'll need another plan to make sure these two stay apart – for good.
