Chapter 10

Day 186

David poured some milk into August's Fruit Loops and August put a scoop into his mouth.

"Are you all ready for school buddy?"

"Yep!" He smiled and then frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I miss my father."

Regina threw her glass of orange juice to the floor which caused David and August to jump, and Emma started crying in her high chair. "I've had enough of this August. HE is your father." She pointed at David then to herself. "And I'm your mother. I've had enough of this fairy tale junk. You are going to see Dr. Hopper after school today. Maybe he can get you back in touch with reality!"

Tears started to drip down August's cheeks a he ran out of the house.

"You don't speak to a child like that!" David picked up Emma and followed August.

August was sitting on the front step with his face in his lap. David sat down beside him with Emma settled on his lap.

He placed his hand on the top of August's lap. "Are you okay buddy?"

He mumbled into his lap. "Do you think I'm crazy too?"

"No… Has she always spoken to you like this?"

"Most of the time." He nodded into his lap.

"How would you feel if it was just you, me and Emma?"

He looked up at David and sniffled. "It would be better than this."

David nodded. "Go inside and get your backpack, I'll drive you to school."

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After dropping August off at school David pulled his truck up to Gold's Pawn Shop. He lifted Emma out of her car seat and headed inside.

"What can I do for you deary? Perhaps a mobile for the child to go over her crib?" He held his hand up to the unicorns hanging from a mobile.

"Not today. I'm looking for an attorney. I was told to come to you."

"Whatever for?"

"I want a divorce. And most of all I want custody of my children."

He nodded. "Why should I help you?"

David shook his head. "I don't know. But this woman has no business being a mother."

"You've only been awake for what, a week? Regina has been there for the children since they came here."

"What are you talking about?"

"She adopted them 6 months ago. You don't know that?"

David's face paled and he looked down at Emma. "You're saying Emma isn't mine?"

"I never said that." He smirked.

"What?"

Gold looked down at Emma and remembered why he wanted this curse in the first place. This child was the only chance to find his son. He wanted the curse to be broken and Regina wasn't going to let that happen. "Forget all that. I will be your attorney. I will set up a case for you. Regina will be served by next week. You will have your children. Until then I suggest putting up with Regina, go back home to her, if you don't she'll use that against you."

David chose to ignore the latter about Emma being adopted. "You can't serve her sooner than that?"

"The papers will meet her at her office on Monday morning. You can survive the weekend am I right?"

"I suppose so. So what about the children once she has been served?"

"Don't worry about that deary. But I would suggest finding a new home."

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David went to the only person he knew to see: Mary Margaret. The children were going through the halls all excited for recess, and one of the other teachers directed him to Mary Margaret's classroom. He walked into the classroom still holding Emma's carrier.

Mary Margaret's eyes looked bloodshot and she had bags under her eyes as if she'd been up all night crying. She looked up from the papers she was marking and her face lit up. "David." She got up and walked over looking down at Emma in the carrier. "How is she?"

"She's good. Want to hold her?" He set her carrier down on one of the desks.

"Yes of course." She lifted Emma out of the carrier and held her tight. "I heard that Jefferson made it through the surgery.

David nodded then smiled seeing them together, it always warmed his heart. "I kinda need your help with something."

"With what?"

"I need to find a place to live, and fast."

"What do you mean?"

"I hired Mr. Gold as my attorney."

"So you're really going through with the divorce?"

He nodded. "She is a pathological liar and the way she talks to August is not okay. There's no way she's going to talk to Emma that way when she gets older."

"I'm all for Emma being away from Regina. But how do you have a case against her?"

"Gold said he'd take care of it. He's pretty sure of it."

"And he owns this town." She smiled. "So you need a place to stay?"

He nodded. "Do you know of a place?"

"Of course I do. You can come live with me."

He ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair. "I don't want to impose…"

"Are you kidding? I can help with Emma. You and August can have the upstairs, I already have a bed up there I can get another for August. I can stay downstairs with Emma."

"That sounds like a lot to ask."

"David… you don't even have a job, you probably won't be able to find one this quickly. This might help your case. I have an income, gives you time to be home for the kids. Just until you get a job of course."

"It sounds great, but Regina has a restraining order against you."

"But if you get custody of them, you can lift it."

He smiled. "That's true. And Emma needs you, I know she does." He placed his hand on Emma's cheek and she smiled up at her Daddy.

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Day 189

Regina came out of the bathroom in her office and looked down at the stick. She didn't know how to feel at all. Was she happy or what? She heard someone coming and stuffed it inside her desk. It was Mr. Gold.

"Can I help you with something?"

"No, but I can." He walked over to her desk and handed her the papers. "You are served, deary."

"What are you talking about?"

"Normally I wouldn't be the one serving you, but I just had to see your face."

She glanced over the papers. "HE'S divorcing ME? And taking the children?"

"Afraid so deary. Your plan is failing."

"How is he going to win?"

"I've already made it so he has temporary custody. The court will never know you adopted them. He and the children are moving in with Mary Margaret as we speak."

"But I have a restraining order against her."

"It was lifted the moment he got temporary custody. I am going to destroy you in court."

"Of what interest is this to you?"

"I want the curse to be broken, and you are only prolonging it. I suggest you find an attorney. I'll see you in court." He limped out of her office.

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Mary Margaret and August stayed home that day so they could all get settled. Mary Margaret was over the moon. She bounced Emma around on her hip and showed her around the apartment. "Your crib is going to stay here right by my bed, okay? And Daddy and August will be just upstairs."

David and August were on the floor sorting through a few boxes. They really didn't have a lot of stuff at Regina's, and they didn't even grab everything they owned. "Do you like it here August?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah I like it a lot! A lot better than at the evil queen's house."

David smiled at him.

They all looked up when they heard a knock on the door. David stood up. "I'll get it." He opened the door. It was Regina.

"Hello David."

"Regina… Did you get the papers?"

She nodded. "I guess I'll have to find an attorney."

He nodded.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your time with your new family… I just had to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"I'm pregnant."