Chapter Twenty
Mary Margaret Blanchard's simple life as a school teacher rapidly began spiraling out of control. Thanks to "Operation Scarlet Letter" rumors were running rampantly through Storybrooke about her and David having an illicit affair. "The Daily Mirror" went so far as to publish incriminating photos of them kissing and hugging. There was no escaping the chatter, Mary Margaret Blanchard and David Nolan were the talk of the town!
One morning Mary Margaret got to her car and found that someone had spray painted the word "TRAMP" on it in bright red paint. She was horrified. She got into her car and sobbed. Mary Margaret couldn't understand why anybody would be so cruel to her, she'd always been a good person with no known enemies. She was completely oblivious to what Regina had unleashed upon her. Mary Margaret tried her best to go on with her life normally, but she cried herself to sleep every night.
The next day, David Nolan came by before work and offered to clean up her car. She gratefully accepted but told David that they probably shouldn't be seen together anymore. Scandal wasn't good for either of their reputations. Alas, it was too late to cool things down, Katherine Nolan was already well aware of how her husband was spending his free time. She was tired of being quiet and playing the good wife, she wanted to speak with Mary Margaret!
Katherine showed up unannounced at Mary Margaret's school and confronted her in the hallway. Mary Margaret didn't bother trying to deny anything, she knew the evidence was already plastered all over Storybrooke. Steadfast in her honesty, Mary Margaret owned up to everything. She and David were falling in love. Mary Margaret apologized to Katherine, but Katherine didn't want to hear it. She slapped Mary Margaret hard across the face, right in the middle of the school hallway. Mary Margaret was mortified.
She went home and laid in bed silently all night. Emma, who was living with her, offered her support by lying next to her. Even though they didn't say a word, Mary Margaret knew that Emma was there for her.
Despite all of Regina's efforts to run Mary Margaret out of town, she still kept her head up and carried on. Mary Margaret thought about leaving town, but Emma and David quickly talked her out of it. Falling in love was no reason to abandon your life and forsake everyone that you hold dear.
Regina was at a loss. Getting Mary Margaret to leave Storybrooke was the only way she could still get her revenge if the curse were to be broken. Regina went to go sit under her beloved apple tree and think. She'd taken it with her from the Enchanted Forest. The tree gave her solace, it was a piece of home. She would pick the apples to clear her head. There were bowls of the beautiful red apples all over her office and home. On this day, she noticed something was different about her tree. It was dying! It had been flourishing for the past twenty-eight years. Why was it suddenly dying? The only reason Regina could come up with was Emma. Emma's presence was weakening the curse. Something had to give!
As if her tree dying wasn't bad enough, what happened that night at dinner was the last straw for Regina. In the middle of their family dinner, Henry announced that he wanted to start spending more time with Emma. He really liked her and enjoyed getting to know her. Henry thought it'd be "awesome" if he could maybe sleep over Emma's place a few nights a week.
"Emma lives with Mary Margaret" Regina pointed out to Henry "Don't you think that will be a little crowded"? She asked trying to remain calm.
"It would only be a few times a week" Henry reasoned "I'm sure we could make it work."
"I'll invite Emma over for lunch this week" Regina promised Henry "Let's see what we can come up with."
"Cool" Henry said excitedly as he left the table.
Regina was crushed. Henry was already stealing away with Emma whenever her could. Now he wanted to stay with her. This was all too much. Regina left the table in tears. Mr. Gold ran after her. Regina was lying in their bed crying. Mr. Gold walked in and shut the door.
"This is all your fault" Regina screamed "You made this happen" she continued as she got more and more enraged.
"Stop blowing everything out of proportion" Mr. Gold pleaded with Regina "Henry just wants to get to know Miss Swan a little better" He said trying to calm Regina down.
"You don't think I know about all the time they spend together"? Regina asked angrily "That woman is not going to take my son"! Regina vowed.
"No. She isn't going to take OUR son" Mr. Gold agreed "Miss Swan is lucky we let her see Henry at all. She has no right to him. If things get out of hand we'll simply take her to court" He assured Regina.
"Court"? Regina asked
"Yes. To anyone who doesn't know better, we are the perfect family. Two loving parents, a beautiful home and a happy, healthy young boy. No judge in going to rule in favor of Emma Swan" Mr. Gold said confidently.
"We shouldn't have to go through all that" Regina lamented "Henry should be ours and ours alone."
"What do you suggest"? Mr. Gold asked annoyed.
"I suggest we get rid of Emma Swan permanently" Regina replied deviously.
"Careful there, Dearie" Mr. Gold warned Regina "You know what would happen if Emma Swan were to die" He continued trying to jog Regina's memory.
"The curse would be broken" Regina muttered.
"Are you prepared for that"? Mr. Gold asked her
"No" Regina answered with absolute certainty "Not until I can be guaranteed that Snow White will still suffer."
"You may want to ask yourself what is more important, revenge or our son" Mr. Gold said to Regina with great seriousness.
"Henry will always be the most important thing in the world to me" Regina answered boldly.
"I'm happy to hear that" Mr. Gold said to Regina as he embraced her "Please don't forget how badly I want to be reunited with Baelfire" He reminded her.
"I know" Regina said softly.
Regina spent the rest of the evening conflicted. Whose wishes were more important? She loved her husband and wanted him to find his son. She also loved Henry and didn't want to share him with Emma. Regina wasn't willing to give up her son in order for Mr. Gold to find his. She'd have to think of another way for him to find Baelfire so that the curse could stay intact. More importantly, the curse needed to endure so that Snow White and Prince Charming's suffering could continue. Regina needed a solution and she needed one fast.
As she laid in bed tossing and turning, it came to her. A good old reliable answer to all of her problems. Now she just had to figure out how to obtain it and how to keep it from her husband.