This is an AU based on the show "Gilmore Girls". Before I get the Daddy Charming police on me, no, I didn't not make him Emma's biological father because I hate him. You can save your little tantrum for someone else. Anyway, in this, there is no magic or anything. Just a Storybrooke AU.
Mary Margaret finished writing out the note before looking down at her baby girl, letting out a deep breath. She had given this a lot of thought and knew it was the right choice. For years, her parents had tried to control her and form her into their version of a perfect daughter. They were so ashamed of her for getting pregnant at 16, though maybe even more ashamed that she had refused to marry Victor. They were too young, not even love. Apparently Victor had been offended that she had turned down his proposal (which had actually just been him staring at Emma with zero emotion and saying "Guess we should get married now", exactly what every little girl dreams of), too, because she had barely heard from him over the past year. He'd drop by to coo over Emma a bit and then disappear.
The final straw had been when Eva told her that she couldn't hack it on her own. She knew that she was wrong and she was going to prove it to her. She had packed up what she could fit into two suitcases and bundled Emma into her stroller. She didn't know where she was going, she just knew she had to get the hell out of Augusta.
Her parents were busying themselves getting ready for some fancy party or another (she no longer had to attend since she had a baby to look after). She knelt next to Emma, giving her a small smile.
"I need you to be very quiet, okay?" She whispered. "We're going on an adventure, you and I. It's going to be lots of fun, or at least, I hope it is. Don't worry, Mommy is going to take care of everything."
Mary Margaret set the note on the table before walking out to the car, knowing there was a good chance that her father would have it repossessed the moment he read the words "Dear Leopold and Eva…"
She drove for at least an hour, Emma staying quiet in the backseat. Eventually, she came across a sign for a town called "Storybrooke". It called out to her, she hadn't ever heard of it, but it seemed perfect. Soon, she was pulling onto Main Street, looking around. There was a hardware store and nearby, an inn.
Mary Margaret was probably the definition of spoiled princess. As unfair as her parents had been over the past year, they had provided everything that she and Emma had needed. She needed to make an honest living, get out from under their thumb. That was just what she would do. She parked her car and took Emma into her arms, walking straight inside.
Eugena Lucas, or Granny as most called her, had seen a lot of things over the years. This was definitely a first. A young girl, couldn't have been older than 16, stood there holding an infant in her arms. The teenager strode up to her desk, clearly trying to look as confident as possible.
"My name is Mary Margaret Blanchard. I'm looking for a job, any job," she told her.
Granny slid her glasses up her nose, looking her up and down. "A job?"
"Yes."
"Do you have a resume?"
"I've never worked before," Mary Margaret replied. "But I'm a fast learner."
Granny still stared at her, unsure. "And that baby…"
"My daughter, Emma."
"Daughter. You can't be that old yourself."
"I'm 16. But again, fast learner."
Granny sighed. The girl had either been kicked out or ran away, that much was certain. As confident as she was trying to look, she knew she was desperate. A mother herself, she would want whoever her daughter showed up to, to take her in and be there for her. She couldn't send the teenager and baby back out into the cold.
"You'll start out as a maid," Granny finally said. "I'm assuming you have no place to live?" Mary Margaret nodded in response. "I have an old potting shed out back, my granddaughter fixed it up before she left for college to stay in when she visits. It's got a bed and a tub. You can stay there, rent free."
Mary Margaret grinned. "Thank you so much."
"As for the little one, I'll look after her for you. It'll come out of your paycheck, you know I can't pay you much."
"I understand. I just need something…anything."
Granny nodded and extended her hand. Mary Margaret's smile widened and she shook it, quickly. She looked down at Emma, cuddling her close.
"We've done it, baby, we've found a home!"
Emma took her first steps on the inn's floors. It had also been where Mary Margaret had taken her first ones, as an independent woman. It wasn't easy, not in the slightest. She picked up her job, quickly though. The other maids didn't seem to like them, but she just thought they were slow. Granny seemed impressed and gave her a raise after a few months of her being there.
She had been right about her parents taking away her car. They hadn't even shown up to do it themselves. She just swore she would save up for a new one. In the meantime, the inn was in close proximity to everything she needed to get to.
Months turned to years and Emma grew before Mary Margaret's very eyes. On her first day of kindergarten, she lead her to the door, feeling very nervous. Emma wasn't, though. She had been planning for that day for a long time. Her red backpack was slung over her back and she had her outfit carefully picked out. Before anyone could do anything, another little girl with raven hair ran over to them.
"Hi, I'm Regina," she said to Emma. She held up a box of crayons. "Wanna color with me?"
"Sure!" Emma quickly hugged her mother's legs. "Bye Mommy!" Soon, she was running off to join her new friend.
Later that day, Mary Margaret would make her first real best friend of her own. Granny's granddaughter was moving back to town to work in the inn's kitchen. Ruby took to Mary Margaret right away, talking a mile a minute about her own life, the young woman could barely keep up.
After that day, Emma wasn't seen very far from Regina and she noticed that she was spending more time in the kitchen. Ruby fed her tons of cookies and danced with her. She'd babysit the rare times that Mary Margaret went out and come up with all sorts of games. She didn't know her grandparents so well, so Granny and Ruby were like the only family she had outside her mom.
Victor continued to come and go, mostly the latter. Ruby often told Mary Margaret to kick him to the curb, but she didn't. She said the door would always be open for him and it would be Emma's choice of when it closed. She wasn't sure if that was the right choice or not, she just wasn't going to be the one to take that from her.
Years continued to go by and Mary Margaret made her way up the chain at the hotel. She went from maid to bell hop to concierge and finally, when Emma was 10, she became manager. She was nervous, but Granny assured her she was qualified. With her new power, she hired Leroy. While grumpy, he was still very good at his job and seemed to have a soft spot for their little family.
That was also the year she met David Nolan.
The diner had opened a couple of years prior, back before she could afford to eat out more often. However, she was doing a lot better for herself. She and Emma had gotten their first house, finally moving out of that potting shed. It had been hard for Emma, she loved living at the inn. At the same time, she also loved finally getting her own room.
One day after unpacking from the load of boxes she thought would never end and dropping Emma off at school, she headed to David's Diner before work, desperate for a cup of coffee. She was in a rush, but the diner was packed. She decided to use her charm to get a quick cup. She walked up to the blonde haired, blue eyed owner, smiling.
"Hi, I need coffee," she informed him.
He waved his hand in the direction of an empty bar stool. "Go sit down."
"I don't have time to wait, can't you just pour me a little bit? Please, pretty please."
David let out a frustrated sigh. It had been a long morning and his other server had called out, meaning he was alone in waiting tables. The last thing he needed was this (albeit very pretty) woman, pestering him.
"I'll be with you in a minute, besides, it seems you don't need any more coffee."
Mary Margaret was quiet for a minute as she followed closely behind him around the diner. "What's your zodiac sign?"
"What?" He asked, setting some eggs down in front of a patron.
"Your zodiac sign, what is it?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Just tell me."
David sighed, wanting nothing more than for this conversation to end.
"Sagittarius," he finally replied.
Mary Margaret nodded and turned to another customer who was flipping through the paper while they drank their tea. "Mr. Clark, may I borrow that?"
The pharmacist nodded and handed it to her. She flipped through to the horoscopes and ripped out the Sagittarius one before handing it back. She reached into her purse and pulled out a sharpie. She scribbled something down and handed it to David. He looked down at it.
You will meet an annoying woman today. Give her coffee and she'll go away.
David couldn't help but smirk. This woman was clearly a piece of work. He set down Mr. Clark's order before walking around the counter and pouring out a takeout cup of coffee, handing it to her.
"There you go, princess."
She smiled. "Thank you, Charming." She took a sip and let out a long sigh. "Now that's good coffee." She could see David was still holding the horoscope. After setting down some money, she turned to leave but then looked over her shoulder. "Hold onto that, the horoscope, it'll bring you luck."
David may have given her the coffee, but Mary Margaret didn't go away. For at least one meal a day, she showed up, with Emma in tow. They loved his pancakes the most (along with his coffee). David was known as the town recluse, he didn't talk to many people. He found himself drawn to the Blanchard girls, though. He would feed them, banter with Mary Margaret and ask Emma how school was going. When the young girl caught the chicken pox and would only eat mashed potatoes, he delivered them daily to their house. He got her something for her birthday every year. He'd even offer Mary Margaret advice every so often.
Ruby saw just how close they were on Emma's 13th birthday. He showed up late, but carrying two bags of ice.
"My hero!" Mary Margaret exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. He grinned and hugged her back.
The chef wasn't the only one to notice, though. Most of the town did, too. What the two of them called banter, everyone else called flirtation. Even Emma noticed it after a while.
"Do you like David?" She asked one night as they walked home.
Mary Margaret nearly spit out the coffee she had just taken a sip of. "Excuse me?"
"You just always seem to be flirting with him."
"I do not flirt!"
"Yeah, you do."
"We just have banter going on."
Emma shook her head. "I'm not a baby anymore, I can see these things. Plus," she shrugged, sipping her cocoa. "Everyone in town thinks you're in love."
"Yeah, well, this town needs to learn to keep their traps shut."
The thought stayed with Mary Margaret, though. Did she like David in that way? It had been so long since she had dated. She wasn't a nun or anything, but never anything too serious. She didn't want to hurt Emma or get her hopes up.
She paid attention over the next few days. She found herself laughing more at David's corny jokes, staring at him more. He was so attractive. As much as she teased him for his obsession with plaid, the way it hung on his body…
But then his ex-girlfriend showed up to town. Kathryn, as she was known to everyone else. The two got back together and that seemed to be the end of it. Around that time, Victor started coming around more, claiming to wanting to be a family with her and Emma. She decided to give it a shot.
Two more years went by and Victor was back to being a mystery person again. Emma didn't even seem to be heartbroken about it like she used to be when she was younger. Kathryn and David had gotten married, but it ended in a quick divorce when she cheated on him. As always, David was there for her when Victor split town and she comforted him the day the entire town found Kathryn making out with Frederick Andrews.
On Emma's 16th birthday, she entered the diner arm in arm with Regina, who was still her best friend. Mary Margaret was throwing her a party that night, but couldn't join them for breakfast at the diner, as she had to work. Together, the best friends sat at the counter. David walked over to them, snatching the menus from their hands.
"Wrong seats," he said.
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Since when is there assigned seating?"
"Since the coffee cake I made and the balloons I blew up for you are over there." He pointed to the table behind them.
She grinned, leaning over to kiss cheek. David had been more of a father to her over those past 6 years than, Victor had been in the past 16.
"Thanks, David," she told him, sincerely.
"Happy birthday, Em."
That night, the party was in full swing. While Mary Margaret's relationship with her parents was still rocky, she and Emma had built a family out of the town. Ruby and her fiancé, Dorothy, were the best aunts/sisters to the girls in the world. Leroy was the grumpy uncle with a heart of gold. Granny, though retired from the inn and mostly handing things over to Mary Margaret and Ruby, was more of a grandmother than Eva ever was.
"Like the cake, sweets?" Mary Margaret asked as Emma dug into it.
"It's delicious, thanks Aunt Ruby," she said, shooting a smile to her.
"Lucky girl, getting two cakes," Regina teased, bumping elbows with her.
Mary Margaret raised an eyebrow. "Two cakes?"
"I forgot to tell you, David made me a coffee cake this morning. He blew up balloons, too."
"Seriously?"
Emma nodded. "It was super sweet."
Mary Margaret's eyes went to the doorway where David was chatting with Ashley Hermann. She felt her heart swelling. She knew how deeply David cared for Emma, but given all they had been through with Victor over the past two years, this meant a lot. He had been their rock and continued to do that. He was even doing what he hated the most, socialize with people, just for his Blanchard girls.
When David stepped out to take a breather, Mary Margaret followed. "A bit much?" She asked.
He chuckled. "You know I only do this twice a year."
"My birthday and Emma's." He nodded. "She told me about the coffee cake and balloons."
David shrugged. "It was no big deal."
"It's a very big deal. These past 6 years…you've…you've always done things for us."
Another shrug fell across his shoulders. "I…I just like seeing you guys happy."
David stared down into her green eyes, both of their hearts racing. She stood on her tip toes, kissing him. He wrapped his arms around her, deepening it. Emma spied from the window, grinning from ear to ear.
The best birthday present she could've asked for.
A few nights later, Mary Margaret and David went on their first date. They went out of town so there'd be no spies. Together they sat by candlelight, smiling at one another, but not saying anything. What could be said? They had known each other for 6 years, had been best friends. Now they were trying it out…dating. It was all so new.
"I'm trying to remember…" Mary Margaret finally spoke up. "How'd we meet?"
David smiled. "You really don't remember?" She shook her head. "Well, once upon a time, I was working a busy morning shift. This woman comes in, pestering me for coffee. I tell her to sit and wait her turn."
"I bet she did," Mary Margaret replied with a grin. "Because she sounds lovely."
"Oh, you'd think, but she wouldn't let it go. Finally, she switches it up, starts bugging me for my zodiac sign. I give it to her and she pulls out a horoscope, writing something down. She hands it to me and it says You will meet an annoying woman today. Give her coffee and she'll go away."
Mary Margaret smirked. "But she didn't go away."
David shook his head, still smiling. "She told me to hold onto it, that it would bring me luck." He reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. He removed the faded newspaper clipping. Sure enough, it still had Mary Margaret's neat handwriting. Her mouth fell open.
"I can't believe you kept that for…"
"6 years."
"6 years," she repeated.
He reached over, taking her hand. "Mary Margaret, I need you to know, whatever this is, I'm in. All in."
She met his glance, tears clouding in her eyes. "Same here."
Two more years of glorious dating and nights spent at the loft above the diner, they found themselves at Ruby and Dorothy's wedding. Mary Margaret was maid of honor, Emma was the bridesmaid. David couldn't believe how sexy Mary Margaret looked or how grownup Emma now was. Soon, she'd be graduating from high school. How the time had flown by.
They danced the night away, Mary Margaret being very surprised at his abilities. That night, Emma had Regina sleepover at their house, while her mom headed back to David's. The following morning, Mary Margaret woke up and headed straight for the coffee pot. She found a black velvet box sitting inside. Her eyes widened as she removed it and flipped it open. Inside was a ring with an emerald stone sitting in the middle.
"Do you like it?" Mary Margaret turned around to find David standing there. "It was my mother's."
"David…it's beautiful."
He walked over to her, removing it from the box. "I love you, Mary Margaret. I love Emma, too. I know we've always sort of been a family, but I want to make it official…"
"Yes," Mary Margaret said.
He smiled. "I didn't even get to ask yet."
"You don't have to. Yes, David, I will marry you."
The wedding was a casual affair, though the entire town came. Almost everyone was glowing as they said "I told you so" to the bride and groom. Neither listened, though, they never did. They exchanged their simple vows, kissing as soon as the priest gave the okay.
Since David's parents had long since passed and May Margaret's still weren't supportive, they had forgone the typical parent/child dances. Instead, Mary Margaret danced with James, her new brother-in-law and David took a spin around the floor with Emma. She had selected the song "He Didn't Have To Be" by Brad Paisley.
"So, you're finally a Blanchard," Emma teased him as they slowly danced.
David chuckled. "I guess I am."
"I'm really glad you married my mom. I know you love her."
"I love you too, Emma, you have to know that."
"I do." She was quiet for a minute. "You know, over the past 8 years, you've been more of a father to me than Victor ever has."
David bit his lip. He always tried to keep his opinion of the deadbeat to himself. "Emma…"
"No, it's okay, really. It's just…I know I'm 18 and everything, so you can't really adopt me…but would you be okay if I called you Dad?"
Tears welled up in his eyes, a watery smile spreading across his face. "Emma, I would love nothing more."
A few months later, Mary Margaret and David walked into the house. She set her purse down, looking around the house. David put his hand on the small of his back.
"I guess we're empty nesters," he said.
She looked up at him. "Only for another 8 months or so."
He raised an eyebrow. "Are you…I mean…"
"I didn't want to say anything in front of Emma, I didn't want to make her first day of college all about me, but…yeah." A smile went across her face. "We're going to have a baby."
He smiled brightly, kissing her. Their family was growing.
17 years ago, Mary Margaret ran away from home to find happiness and she had found it. In David. In Emma. In the Inn. In Ruby, Granny, Regina, all the family she had found. The truth was, Storybrooke had brought her all of that.
Maybe there was magic in that little town after all.
I hope you guys enjoyed this one! As always, prompts are accepted on my Tumblr accounts: just-an-outlaw and justanoutlawfanfiction!
