Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or the characters. This is just one of the
many sandboxes I like to play in. :)
AN: Thanks for all the great feedback. As you would guess by now, this story is AU, though I will be including many canon events, I will also be including new elements.
Pairings: Primarily Snowing - With eventual OutlawQueen. Down the road, there will also be brief SwanFire and eventually Captain Swan.
-One week has passed since the events in chapter 9
Finding You Always
Chapter 10: Turning Tables
"I quit!" Ruby snapped, as she tossed her apron on the floor in the middle of breakfast service.
It had been a week with no lead on Dr. Whale's whereabouts and tonight was the big debate between David and Sidney. Then the people would cast their votes that very evening.
It seemed though that the tension between Granny and Ruby that had been building the past week had finally boiled over.
Ruby huffed and sat down beside Mary Margaret, who sat across from David and Emma. It had become a routine for them. Mary Margaret would almost always meet them for breakfast now and then take Emma to school with her. Then most nights, David and Emma would go to her place for dinner. They were the talk of the town, of course. Not much happened in Storybrooke, so the handsome new Sheriff spending so much time with pretty, but reserved Mary Margaret Blanchard was gossip gold.
She received glares from a few women, namely Zelda, whom she was sure was jealous and Regina, of course, whom just seemed to hate her.
But she received genuine smiles from many, who seem glad to see her with someone wonderful. She noticed it was a little different for him. He was new in town, which made him mysterious to most and he was very handsome, so he garnered a lot of attention from the female population. He didn't seem to notice much and Mary Margaret felt lucky for that. Their relationship hadn't gone beyond casual dating, but he was completely devoted to her...and Emma of course.
"Ruby...are you sure about quitting?" David asked.
"Yes! I've had it with this place," Ruby replied.
"What are you going to do?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I don't know, but I'll find something that isn't here," Ruby said, as she stormed out. Mary Margaret looked worried for friend, but David put his hand on hers.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," he assured. She smiled and squeezed his hand.
"I should probably get to the station," he mentioned.
"Yeah, we should get to school," Mary Margaret added. David paid the check and then knelt beside Emma, zipping her coat up and they stepped outside the diner.
"Have a good day at school, princess," he said, as he helped her into Mary Margaret's station wagon.
"I'll see you tonight...at the debate," he said hopefully. She smiled and kissed him.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied, as she got in and drove off.
David got to the station a few minutes later and took his jacket off. He sat down at his desk and started listening to the messages. Most of it was minor and he opened one of his drawers, finding both Emma's file from social services and the file Graham had given him on Albert Spencer's possible dealings. He hadn't had time to look at either yet, with Graham's death and Whale's disappearance. Since there were no major calls, he decided to take the time. He half expected Jason to call him to come pick up a drunk and disorderly Leroy, as he had done so three times last week, but it seemed Leroy had behaved last night, as there were no calls.
He took a breath and opened Emma's file. He looked at the first page with fascination. After they were found, he had been told a DNA test was done. He guessed that this had led to the state drawing up a legal birth certificate for her for the state of Maine. He was listed as the father, though most of the information for him was incomplete. It was strange that it seemed they hadn't found any information on him at all.
He turned to the next page and took a sharp intake of breath, as he saw adoption papers. A Mister and Misses Nathan and Linda Swan had adopted Emma when she was a year old and then sent her back when she was four, because they managed to have their own children. He was confused and horrified that two people could just send her back like they didn't care. He shook his head and kept reading, his heart sinking more and more as he did.
She'd been put into a temporary foster home after that, one that took as many as they allowed, likely for the state subsidy. Emma was removed six months later due to severe neglect. David put the folder down and took deep breaths to try to quell the rage he felt inside. But his rage only grew, as he read the next page.
This had been her last foster home. She had been there until she was eight. The couple she had been with were abusive, largely verbally, to Emma, though there had been some physical incidents with the older children in their care. Emma had shown signs of her own bruises and finally all the children were removed. After that, Emma had lived in a group home until she came and found him.
David didn't remember if there had been a time where he had been so livid. His little girl, his precious little angel, had been horribly mistreated and he hadn't been able to protect her. He wanted nothing more than to hunt those people down and make them pay, but he knew that wouldn't help Emma at all. As a substitute, he kicked the trash can angrily.
"Sorry, is this a bad time?" Jason asked, as he peered into David's office.
"Sorry...come in. No one was supposed to see that," David said sheepishly. Jason smiled.
"I've been known to kick a few in my day as well. Nothing to be ashamed of. I was just coming to sign that voucher statement, regarding Johnny's sentence," Jason replied.
"Right," David replied, as he found the folder and Jason signed the forms.
"You know, people say I'm a pretty good listener if you want to talk about it," the tavern owner mentioned.
"I daresay, as a barkeep, I hear more problems than Dr. Hopper," he joked. David smiled.
"I was just reading my daughter's file from social services and all the things I wasn't able to protect her from while I was in a coma," David confessed.
"I haven't heard good things about the foster system. If kicking a trash can is all you did, then I'd say you're doing pretty well," Jason replied. David gave him a half smile
"Thanks. I guess I knew you'd probably get it, being a parent and all," he replied.
"Well, from what I've seen, from one single father to another, you're doing great with her," Jason said.
"Love heals...at least that's what Mary Margaret tells me," David replied. The other man smiled.
"Smart woman. Come by the tavern sometime, when you're off duty. I owe you a drink or two, on the house," Jason insisted.
"Thanks, I'll do that," David replied.
She sighed, as she dialed the number and waited for her father to pick up. Makoto Sakura was acutely aware of her brother's presence in town, but had yet to make contact. Instead, she had to report her current findings to her father and she was nervous, because she had not obtained what he needed from Gold. She listened to him speak and waited until he finished speaking.
"Father...I'm not sure I understand what you need me to do," Mako said, as she spoke into the phone in her room at Granny's.
"I am not surprised that the Dark One refused to give you the potion. You will have to gather the ingredients yourself. The woods around the town mirror the forests of the Enchanted Forest," the dragon spoke.
"Yes...I don't foresee the herbs and flora being a problem. But you want hair from the Prince and Snow White?" she asked.
"And blood samples as well. But not just any hairs. You must collect a sample after one of them has performed a heroic task or done something selfless," he instructed.
"But they don't remember who they are. How do I…" she was cut off.
"The Prince is running for Sheriff. Create a situation. I've given you names of those that will be more than happy to create discord, especially with the potions I've given you. The prince, even without his true memories, will not stand idly by when people need help. He's not fully effected by the curse and is still a natural leader," the dragon spoke, as if the people were simply pieces on a chessboard. And Snow White and the Prince were apparently his most important pieces. Everyone else just seemed to be pawns.
"Yes father, I believe I have an idea. It will create chaos and unknowingly allow the Prince to surface for a moment, if nothing else," she responded, as an idea formulated in her head.
"Good...do not fail me, daughter. I've waited many centuries to find this kind of magic again. No harm must come to them," the dragon said.
"Yes father," she replied, as she hung up the phone and headed for the tavern on the opposite end of town.
The town square was buzzing with activity, as people milled about. They would soon venture inside town hall for the debate, but Mary Margaret bided her time by plastering more posters around town, this time with Emma happily tagging along, holding posters for her.
"Mary Margaret?" Emma asked. Since they were outside of school, Mary Margaret told her she could call her by her first name, instead of Miss Blanchard like she did in school.
"Hmm?" she responded.
"Do you think my Daddy is going to win?" Emma asked. The teacher smiled.
"I do. He's the best man for the job," Mary Margaret assured, as she knelt down beside her. Her romantic encounters with David in the last week, foremost being the one in the square a week ago, had chased away her usual insecurities and meekness.
"Don't let anything Mr. Glass says get to you, sweetie. I have hope that the people will choose correctly," she assured. Emma certainly hoped so. Operation Cobra would be more difficult if someone like Mr. Glass ended up being her dad's boss. It would give the Queen control again.
"Cause good always wins...right?" Emma prompted. Mary Margaret smiled at her and thought about her seemingly simple words for a moment.
"Yes. Good always wins," Mary Margaret agreed.
It hadn't taken much to convince her contact, who was known here simply as Keith, to venture into the back alley behind the Rabbit Hole with her, tempted by her feminine whims. According to her father's information, he was a notorious troublemaker in Jason Locksley's bar. She supposed it made sense. After all, Jason was once a very present thorn in Keith's side back in Sherwood forest, before the curse brought them to this land. But his position in this world didn't matter. He would do the job, especially with her potion invoking his natural instincts to challenge someone like Charming, someone who stood for everything he hated in both worlds.
Before he could touch her, she blew some back dust in his face, trapping him in a trance and invoking the spell. Where her brother had no interest in magic and constantly preached how science was superior, she was fascinated by magic and had been her father's willing student in the art of sorcery.
"Listen carefully...I have very specific instructions for you," she stated to her temporary pawn.
David arrived at the square late that afternoon and was a little uneasy under all the stares of the townspeople. He quickly found exactly who he was looking for and found himself drinking her in. She was breathtaking and he wondered how he had become so captivated by a woman in such a short time. Her beautiful, silky raven hair was covered by a white hat for warmth in the late September Maine weather. Her cheeks were rosy, which looked positively gorgeous on her ivory skin. Her eyes sparkled like emeralds and her smile took his breath away. He was in love...he was sure of it. He probably had been since he laid eyes on her, but hadn't been brave enough to admit it.
The scene before him became even more perfect, as he watched her kneel beside his daughter and zip her coat up a bit higher, as it grew colder. The care she took and the adoration in her eyes when she looked at Emma stole the air from his lungs and he made his way to them.
As Emma petted Pongo, who had just arrived with Archie, David scarcely gave Mary Margaret time to greet him, before he was kissing her. Neither noticed Regina's glare, nor any other stares.
"Wow...not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?" she asked.
"Thought I might as well give them all something to stare at," he replied. She beamed at him, as he drew her into another kiss, albeit shorter than the last.
"Daddy...did you see all the posters we put up?" Emma asked, as she darted to him. He knelt down to catch her and scooped her up.
"I did. You did such a good job, princess," he praised.
"STOP HIM! STOP THAT MAN!" someone cried. David's head jerked up and saw Mr. Gold hobbling out of his shop, shouting, as a man ran down the street with a bag slung over his shoulder, likely full of stolen goods. He quickly put Emma down.
"Stay here with Mary Margaret," he said, as he ushered them to the side and took off running, while Mary Margaret noticed that Sidney stood dumbstruck and unable to move out of fear, even as some of his would-be-supporters looked to him expectantly. Mary Margaret rolled her eyes and held Emma close, just as David tackled the man, sending them both spilling to the ground.
The man pushed David off and stood up, eyes darting around at the gathering crowd around them. David got up and put his hands out.
"Easy...this doesn't have to get violent. We can work this out," he tried to reason. The man scrambled and took a broad sword out of the large bag he had used to steal from the pawn shop, while a second sword clattered to the ground. David drew his gun and the man grabbed the first person he could reach...which just happened to be Mayor Mills herself. The woman actually looked frightened, something that looked foreign on her face.
"Let her go," David demanded.
"I want a fair fight, Sheriff," the man said, gesturing to the other sword. David looked perplexed.
"You want me to duel with you?" he asked incredulously.
"Pick it up or we'll find out how much of her throat I can slit before your bullet stops me...if you really want to take that chance," Keith hissed.
"Do something!" Regina pleaded. Her mind was racing. Just days ago, nothing happened in this town that she didn't know about. Now, she had almost lost complete control. And the worst part was...she now had to rely on the man partly responsible for her loss of control to save her life.
David holstered his gun and slowly picked up the sword. His head momentarily ached with a sharp, but brief pain, as he clutched the hilt of the weapon, which he had to admit was impressive. Running unknowingly on instinct, David flicked his wrist and brought the sword into ready position.
The man shoved Regina away and charged, his sword swiping at his neck. David hissed, as he sustained a minor cut from the swipe, before the weapon was clanging against his, as he parried the strike. Two more slashes and David blocked them expertly, surprising himself and everyone else...save for a few, though he didn't notice the amused smirk on Gold's face or the scowl on Regina's.
He was baffled himself. Where in this day and age had he learned to sword fight? And sword fight really well? He felt the tugging of instinct and listened to it, whipping around, slashing with precision and disarming the would be thief. He pointed the end of his weapon at the man and he put his hands up in surrender. David took out his handcuffs and dropped the sword, before hauling the assailant to his feet and putting him in cuffs.
"You're under arrest," he stated. The applause started with Jason and soon most everyone joined. David looked a little uncomfortable with it, but nodded graciously to the people. He took the swords and bag of stolen goods and handed them to Gold. The shop owner took the bag, but held his hands up at the weapons.
"Keep them...as thanks. You never know when you'll need a weapon," Gold said cryptically. David looked confused, but then nodded, not wanting to offend the shop owner, though he had no idea what he would do with two swords.
While David took his prisoner to the station, the townspeople filed inside City Hall to hear Sidney's speech, though many thought it was a moot point. It was more than clear as to which candidate was the most qualified to protect them.
Meanwhile, Regina followed the imp back into his store, slamming the door closed behind her.
"What the HELL was that?!" she screamed.
"I was wondering the same thing," Gold replied. Regina looked at him suspiciously.
"You mean...you didn't set that up?" she asked, as she looked around. The shop was a mess.
"No dearie, it seems we have visitors in town. The glaze in the eyes of our friend from Nottingham was unmistakeable," Gold stated.
"A spell...but that's impossible! This world has no magic," Regina refuted.
"Unless someone brought it here from...another realm," Gold replied. Her eyes narrowed.
"You mean someone from our realm...that…" Regina started.
"Was here long before we came over with the curse? Yes...exactly that," Rumple responded.
"And he's sent his minions here. Now that the curse is weakening, he's found a way to get his spies into Storybrooke," he continued.
"Why...what's his interest in Charming?" Regina demanded to know.
"I have my guesses, but even I don't know his end game," Rumple replied.
"Then help me strengthen the curse!" Regina demanded. Rumple giggled.
"Sorry dearie, but savior magic comes from true love..the most powerful magic of all," Rumple answered.
"She's just a child...and I will find a way to stop her!" Regina spat, as she stormed out and collided into Jason Locksley.
"Oh...Madam Mayor, I'm so sorry," he apologized. Regina glared at him, but found herself softening when little Jacob smiled up at her.
"That's...it's all right. It was my fault," she admitted, glancing down at the boy.
But something on his father's arm, visible by the rolled up sleeves on his coat, caught her attention and made her blood run hot. A lion tattoo…
"I've got to go," she said hastily, almost running away...