In this chapter, everyone is reeling from the discovery of Kathryn's heart, emotional tensions run high, there's a lack of communication, and some major decisions are made.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the show.
Another Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer or someone with professional experience in law. I only know what Google and a single college course in Law I taught me.
Special thanks as always to Can't-Stop-My-Fandoms for helping me edit this chapter.
Enjoy!
Suspicions
February 26, 2012
Emma looked at the clock on the wall, anxiously tapping her fingers against the top of her desk waiting for Ray to get there. They needed to go over how to help Mary Margaret, preferably before Regina somehow learned about the fingerprints. Knowing her, she probably had someone working for her in the hospital, so time wasn't something they had an abundance of.
Please just let me get one thing right, Emma thought to herself. Graham still wasn't back yet, and not for the first time Emma was wondering what the hell was taking him so long. Why hadn't this Bill guy called back yet? Where the hell was Graham?
Someone walked into the bullpen, and while it wasn't Graham, Emma couldn't help but feel a little relieved that it was Killian.
"Hey." Emma said as she stood up, feeling awkward after remembering the tension between the kids last night.
Killian too appeared to be awkward, shoving his hand in his pocket instead of reaching out to her. "I dropped the girls off with the nuns earlier, and...I think we need to talk about last night."
Emma felt some guilt swell up inside her, and although she knew Henry was in the wrong, she still felt compelled to defend him. "Killian, I know Henry was wrong in snapping at Mai, but-"
"But nothing." He interrupted with a clenched jaw. "He's older than her, he should know better."
"And I told him that." Emma said a little defensively. "He's a kid, and I'll make him apologize."
"Then where is he?" Killian asked. "You know, Mai would've appreciated an apology last night, but neither Henry or you were anywhere to be found."
Emma, upon hearing this accusation against Henry, impulsively snapped. "He wasn't there last night, because I'm a horrible mother!"
Her words sounded angry, but once the brief flash of anger disappeared, all she was left with was guilt.
Killian was clearly stunned, but that barely registered to Emma. She was on a roll.
"Do you know what he told me last night?" Emma asked with an empty, sardonic smile. "He said that he doesn't think I love him enough or pay enough attention to him , because he thinks I like Mai more. Yeah, he actually said that he didn't think he was cute or young enough. I mean, I thought I was doing a good job like that...fuck I thought about that all the time whenever a little kid got adopted and I got older, and now my own kid feels like that. Mai's a good kid, but Henry's my son, and he feels like that because I suck at this." Emma sniffed, trying not to cry. "He's been neglected his whole life and then he finds out he's adopted and wonders why I gave him up. Then Mai starts asking him if we'd get married and I'd be her mommy, and it upset him, because he just wants someone to love him. Okay? Yes, Henry screwed up, and he knows that, and I know that, but there are deeper issues here." Emma choked up as she finished up, "And now he feels like he's got no mom to love him because I'm not good enough."
Emma looked away from Killian, placing her hands on her hips as she tried hard not to let herself completely collapse. She already felt like she had pushed her limits by saying this much, but she couldn't help it. The tiniest part of her felt relieved at getting this out, but it was overrun by the feelings of guilt and worthlessness that consumed her mind.
A few long moments passed before Killian told Emma, "You are good enough."
Emma scoffed, wincing at how close it sounded to a sob.
"You are." Killian insisted. "You're a wonderful mother. You changed your entire life for him, moving and taking a new job, just to make sure that he was okay. Emma, he's the center of your world. That doesn't make you a bad mother at all."
"Henry doesn't think so." Emma still couldn't look at Killian, lest the dam break. "He feels like I've neglected him too."
"Henry is a young lad going through a lot right now." Killian told her. "Look, I've known Henry for his entire life. I've seen how much Regina neglected him, and I hate that I did nothing earlier. You were the first one to truly fight for him. If my over-a-month of experience as a parent has taught me anything, it's that it's far from the easiest thing in the world, but you're still doing your best by him." b"You are an amazing woman, Emma, and yes you make mistakes, but I'm not going to let you think that you're a bad mother when you are one of the best mothers I've ever met."
Emma scoffed despite how much she wanted to believe him.
"Emma, look at me." Killian said, and when she wouldn't, he stepped every so slightly into her view before he reiterated. "Look at me."
Gritting her teeth together to keep her emotions at bay, she finally met his eyes.
He then asked her, "Have I ever lied to you? Have I ever told you something just because I thought you wanted to hear it?"
Emma paused before shaking his head. She didn't even try to bring up his deal with the guys about spying on Regina, because he only did that to help her.
"So when I saw that I think you're a good mother, do you think I'm lying just to spare your feelings?"
"No." Emma said quietly.
Killian didn't say anything then. He merely looked at her silently, waiting for a reply.
Eventually, she gave him one. "I'm sorry about what Henry said. I'll talk to him again, and get him to apologize."
Killian nodded. "I'm sorry too. Listen-"
Just then, the doors to the bullpen opened, and in walked Ray.
"Sorry I'm late." Ray announced as she walked in, suitcase in had. "I had to make a quick run somewhere. Have you-" Just then he noticed Killian, and looked between him and Emma, clearly wondering what Killian knew.
"Is this about the hearts?" Killian asked them.
"No." Emma said. "It's actually about...about Kathryn's murder."
"Oh god, it was Kathryn's heart." Killian breathed out.
"Yeah." Emma replied before telling Killian, "You should get going. Things are about to go batshit, and I'd feel better if you weren't involved."
"You mean more batshit than lately?" Killian questioned incredulously.
Emma said, "Killian, please, just listen to me. Go home. Get to your girls. Please."
Killian looked like he wanted to argue, but in the end he simply nodded. He then silently reached out to briefly squeeze her hand before letting it go, leaving soon after without another word.
Part of Emma wanted to go after Killian, to make things right, but she had something important to do. She had to do what she could to protect Mary Margaret. Hopefully she could hold off the interrogation until Graham got there.
Ray, with a serious look on his face, told Emma, "It's time we get to work."
This can't be happening, Mary Margaret thought before she flinched at the bright light of the flash bulb. One minute she'd been taking Copper to the veterinarian for some sort of shot, with David who happened to be there, the next she had to leave David with Copper because she was being arrested for murder.
"Please turn to the right." Emma instructed gently as she prepared the camera for Mary Margaret's next mugshot.
Even as she did so, Mary Margaret said, "Emma, this is a mistake. I didn't kill Kathryn."
"Mary Margaret, as your lawyer, I'm advising you to restrain from commenting further." Ray told her as Emma finished up the mug shot.
"Even though I believe you." Emma said. "I'm your friend, but I'm also the deputy, and I have to go where the evidence leads."
"Which points to me?" Mary Margaret questioned, feeling disgusted by the implication. "I didn't...cut out Kathryn's heart and bury it in the woods." Mary Margaret's heart broke for Kathryn. Sure they weren't close, and she never suspected they would, but no one deserved that. She especially felt horrible for Kathryn's father, and she wondered if he was informed yet. Oh, the poor man.
Emma replied, "If I don't book you, with all this evidence, it's gonna look like favoritism. And then Regina will have cause and she will fire me, and then you know what she'll do? She'll bring in someone who will railroad you, even if Graham somehow manages to remain on the force. So please, just try to be patient and trust me."
"Where is Graham, by the way?" Mary Margaret asked as Emma filed the photos she took of her.
"I have no idea." Emma said, sounding slightly aggravated.
Mary Margaret didn't know what could be keeping Graham. Did something happen with Declan? If so, why wouldn't Graham tell Emma? That would be reasonable enough, right?
"Sorry I'm late." Graham said as he rushed into the station.
Speaking of which.
"Where the hell have you been?" Emma shot back with an incredulous look.
"I was-" Graham started before he noticed Mary Margaret there. He then took a moment to calm down and said, "I had to look over some business at the hospital."
Emma got a knowing look and started to say, "With Bi-"
"With a bill, yes." Graham told her with a significant look, and Mary Margaret got the feeling that she was missing something important.
At least, Graham turned to Mary Margaret and said, "Listen, it's all going to be alright. We just need to-"
Just then the doors of the bullpen opened again, and to Mary Margaret's great disappointment, Regina stepped in.
"Ah, I see everyone's assembled without me." Regina said as she strode into the bullpen with a closed folder in her hand. She then sent Mary Margaret a look that, while not overtly hostile, sent a chill throughout her body. "Kathryn's father called me about the terrible news, and I learned that Mary Margaret was a suspect."
"Of course you did." Emma muttered quietly under her breath.
Regina didn't seem to hear it, and said, "Well, I think it's time we get the truth."
"Just remember to let me do the talking when I signal you." Ray whispered to Mary Margaret just as they entered the interrogation room.
Ray warily watched Regina as they all piled into the interrogation room.
Keeping us honest, my ass, Ray thought to himself as he and Mary Margaret sat on one side of the table, while Emma and Graham sat on the other side. With no seats remaining, a somewhat put off Regina was forced to stand.
"You certainly got here in a speedy manner, Mr. Fitzroy." Regina said while sending a suspicious glance Emma's way.
"I aim for proficiency." Ray replied with an equally fake smile.
"I must say, I am a bit surprised to see you here, Mr. Fitzroy." Regina said with faux surprise. She then looked at Mary Margaret as she said, "Typically innocent people don't need lawyers."
So that's how it's going to be, Ray thought. "If the world were perfect, that'd be the case, but I'd like to think that innocent people could always use every benefit the justice system has to offer. Don't you think, Madame Mayor?"
"How about we begin?" Graham suggested, though his tone made it clear that they should all listen to him. He signaled to Emma, who turned on the recording device.
"Please state your name and oc- and occupation." Graham said with a slight wince. Ray knew that it was standard procedure, to get the basic information out of the way, but given how they all knew the answer it was still hard to listen to.
Mary Margaret gave the tiniest flinch as she said, "Mary Margaret Blanchard. I am- I was the fifth grade teacher at the elementary school in Storybrooke."
Ray practiced some self control when, out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw Regina smirk, though her face was fairly expressionless by the time he looked at her.
Emma stated, "The heart we recovered, which the hospital lab confirmed is Kathryn Atonis', was found buried near the old toll bridge. It had been cut out by what appears to be a hunting knife. Have you ever been to that bridge before?"
"Yes." Mary Margaret answered. "The night David woke up from his coma and wandered into the woods, a few of us tracked him to the bridge. He was unconscious, and I gave him CPR."
"Do you mean David Nolan?" Graham asked for clarification.
"Yes." Mary Margaret replied.
"Did you ever go to the bridge at any other point?" Graham asked her.
Mary Margaret answered, "Not that I can think of."
Emma then got up to open a nearby cabinet, and soon she pulled out the box where Ray and Ruby had found Kathryn's heart. Even not it sent a shiver up his spine.
"Have you ever seen this before?" Emma asked as she placed the box in front of Mary Margaret.
"Yes, that's my jewelry box." Mary Margaret answered, clearly confused by how they got it.
Still doesn't sound good, Ray thought, knowing the implication could be that Mary Margaret was a sloppy murderer who used her own jewelry box to hide the heart.
"That's where we found the heart in." Emma said unhappily.
Mary Margaret frantically stated, "Don't you see what's happening here? Someone stole that box and put the heart in it. I didn't have anything to do with it. I'm innocent."
"You have to admit, it's a bit too coincidental." Regina said. "I mean, you only now notice your jewelry box missing, you've yet to provide an alibi for Kathryn's disappearance, and you were about to lose David all over again."
What is she talking about?, Ray thought to herself. Judging by the looks on the others faces, they were confused as well, but Regina seemed a little too sure of herself for it to be a bluff.
"I was-" Mary Margaret started, but upon realizing that her alibi would've been shaky, continued in a less assured tone said, "I was home alone, I think, at least until Emma came home. Still, I didn't lose David. I mean, we're just friends."
"Ah." Regina said, and Ray didn't like the way she seemed subtly eager to place the folder down on the table. "Someone placed this on my doorstep before I left my home today, and I felt it necessary to bring it to your attention." Regina then opened the folder, and soon showed photos of David and Kathryn drinking at a bar, David and Kathryn entering her house, and then David leaving the house.
Ray looked at the time stamp, and realized that hours had passed between David entering the house and David leaving the house.
What?, Ray thought. Why didn't David say anything?
Looking at Mary Margaret, Ray could see that she was clearly hurt and surprised by the photos.
Regina, in a sympathetic tone, said, "I know it couldn't have been easy, thinking that you would be able to be with David, only for him to go back to Kathryn."
"I didn't know." Mary Margaret said as she stared at the photos, clearly coming to a pretty horrible conclusion.
"Well, you're friends with David." Regina said in a faux curious tone. "Yet you don't know how he spends his time?"
"Can I speak to you in the hallway, please?" Emma asked tersely, standing up and walking over to the door, opening it with an expression that clearly left little room for argument.
Only when Emma closed the door, and her and Regina's footsteps led them down the hallway, did Mary Margaret clear her throat with an upset look on her face.
She looked at Graham and insisted, "I didn't do this. I swear I didn't."
"We're just trying to figure this out." Graham told her calmly, though it was clear that he part of him was uncomfortable with this.
Ray looked at Mary Margaret again, and he knew that she was clearly hurt by the implication. It didn't make any sense. Why would David sleep with Kathryn since he quite ready for a divorce? Did they even sleep together?
Ray tried to comfort her by saying, "Either way, those pictures prove nothing."
"Ray." Mary Margaret nearly scoffed.
"I mean it." Ray told her with a meaningful look. "For all we know, they simply decided to sober up at her house. That's it."
Mary Margaret started, "But-"
"And we can always ask David to confirm or deny it." Ray continued firmly before looking at Graham. "Either way, nothing about this implicates my client in Kathryn's murder. For all we know, someone did break in into the loft to frame her, likely in an attempt to use...whatever this is to their advantage."
It would certainly be a trial to defend that against a judge or jury, but if they managed to find the murder weapon with someone else's fingerprints that would help.
Eventually, Emma and Regina came back in, but as no one had anymore questions, Mary Margaret was soon escorted back to her cell, and Ray was left wondering what kind of uphill battle he was gearing up for.
There's got to be something I can use here, Emma thought as she helped opened the door of the loft, looking for signs of a break-in.
"There don't seem to be signs break-in if the lack of damage is anything to go by." Graham remarked before he looked at the frame of the door. "Not here either."
"It could've been the windows." Emma suggested before going over there, she and Graham checking out each window, and sadly they all looked undamaged as well.
"Did you find something?" Henry's voice asked, and Emma whirled around to see her kid standing in the loft, having gotten in thanks to the open door.
"Henry, hi." Emma said as she approached him, still a little wary of making things worse given what happened last night.
"Hi." Henry replied in a distant tone, a clear sign that the tension was still real on his side of things. Then, he continued in that same tone, "I heard about what happened with Mary Margaret. We have to help her."
"We are helping her." Emma reassured him. "But you shouldn't be here. It's a police investigation."
"I'm not leaving." Henry said stubbornly.
"Henry." Emma sighed.
"Henry." Graham stepped up. "Your mother's right. If people find out you were here, it might hurt Mary Margaret's case."
"How come?" Henry questioned, though this time a little more concerned.
Emma answered, "Because if we find anything that proves that Mary Margaret's innocent, the prosecution can argue that because you're here, the evidence wasn't secured, which means that we could've tampered with it."
"Oh." Henry said quietly.
"I know it sucks-" Emma started, stepping forward to comfort him, only to feel something stab in her chest when Henry took a step back. "Henry."
"I guess I don't have to be here." Henry muttered before he ran off.
Emma wanted to run after him, biting her lip in uncertainty, torn between needing to mend things with her son and finding anything that could help prove her best friend wasn't a murderer.
"Go after him." Graham urged Emma. "Just make sure you come back."
Emma sent him a grateful nod before racing after Henry. It didn't take long, however, as she soon found him sitting on the stairs. His arms were wrapped around his shins, and he was hiding his face in his knees.
"Henry, what is it?" Emma asked as she sat next to him, ignoring the hurt she felt when he shifted away from her touch. "Henry."
"Go away." Henry muttered, and she heard the way his voice wobbled like he was holding back tears.
"Henry, please, talk to me." Emma pleaded, shifted closer to him without touching him. She couldn't let this continue. She couldn't let her baby keep suffering like this. "Henry, I want you to listen to me. I am not going to leave you because Mai's around. Mai isn't my kid, you are."
"She thinks she is!" Henry shot back as he finally lifted his head to look at her with reddened eyes. "S-She's pretty much ready to start calling you 'Mommy', and then you'll forget about me." Henry then seemed to get more upset when he said, "And then if you and Killian get married, then you'll have Mai and Phoebe and Lady, then you won't care if I'm left with Regina when you break the curse."
Emma's nearly reared back in shock. "Henry, is...is that what you think? You think that I'd just...forget you?"
Henry didn't look at her as he nodded. "Everyone forgets me. It's because of the curse, b-but…everyone does eventually."
Henry then gave out a little sob, his body shaking as he tried to hold in more, and with that went the last bit of resolve Emma had before she pulled him into her arms. At first he tried to pull away, but soon he wrapped his arms around her and started crying as she rubbed his back.
"I-I-" Henry started before more sobs followed.
"It's okay, Henry." Emma said, trying to control herself so as not to upset him further.
"I just…" Henry cried. "I just don't want you to forget me too."
Emma held him tighter. "I won't ever forget you. You're my son, and I promise that I'll never let you go, okay?"
"You promise?" Henry asked vulnerably.
"Absolutely." Emma said as she gently brushed his hair with her hands. Then, because she felt like he really needed some honesty, she told him, "Since the day you were born, I never stopped thinking about you."
"Really?" Henry asked her quietly as he pulled back to look at her.
"Mhmm." Emma told him, cupping his face in her hands, gently wiping at his tears with her thumbs. "Okay? You're the most important person in my life, and I'm sorry if I made you feel any differently."
Henry gave her a tentative smile.
"Emma." Graham said, startling both Henry and Emma. "Sorry, but we have to…"
"I know." Emma said. She then turned to Henry and asked, "Do you think you can hang out with one of your friends? I think they're hanging out around Granny's today."
"Okay." Henry said before hugging Emma. "I'll see you later?"
"Definitely." Emma said as they got up. "Be careful."
"No promises." Henry joked, though at Emma's glare he amended, "I promise."
Emma smiled as she waved at him, watching him disappear down the stairs.
Then, turning to Graham with a more serious look, Emma knew it was time to get back to work.
Walking back into the loft, Emma asked, "You find anything? Any broken glass or muddy footprints?"
"Sadly, the loft's immaculate. No signs of any sort of damage." Graham replied as they continued to look around. "You think Mary Margaret might be right? That someone could be setting her up?"
"If they are, it could go either way." Emma said. "On one hand, the supposed girlfriend of a somewhat married man getting rid of the wife could make a good story, especially with those photos. On the other hand, David was close to finishing the divorce, so there wouldn't be much motive of Mary Margaret could wait that long."
"But who'd do something like that?" Graham asked before pausing. "You think...you think Regina might have?"
"Honestly?" Emma grimaced. "After finding those hearts and seeing how she treats people, I wouldn't put anything past her at this point. Not to mention, she does seem to have it out for Mary Margaret. Any idea why?"
It was a good thing they managed to go back and put everything back the way they found it, especially with closing that coffin back over the secret stairwell. The last thing they needed was Regina knowing they were there. Hell, it was lucky they had the presence of mind of going back to do so given how deep in shock they all were.
Graham shook his head. "Regina's just...always held this anger towards Mary Margaret, but hell if I could tell you what it means."
Emma sighed.
Graham got this weird look on his face. "Listen, Emma, there's something I-"
Just as he was saying this, Emma sat down on her bed, and froze when she heard something rumbling.
"What was that?" Graham asked, apparently forgetting what he was going to say.
The two of them realized that the sound came from the vent, and went over to investigate it.
Examining the vent more closely, Emma removed the opening and found that there was something wrapped in a cloth.
"Gloves." Graham reminded her, and they both put theirs on.
Once her gloves were secure, Emma reached in and grabbed the object. Carefully unwrapping it, Emma found a small hunting knife.
This...this was not good. Not good at all.
Henry sat at the counter of Granny's, moving his spoon around in his mug of hot cocoa with cinnamon.
He felt a little better now after talking to his mom. Even if a little part of him thought she might forget about him, a bigger part was now more assured. Emma didn't lie, right? Besides, he didn't sense that she was lying. He may not be a living lie detector like she was, but he could tell that she was being honest.
He was just a little bummed that Mary Margaret was framed for murder. He knew his- he knew that Regina had something to do with it. He felt sorry for Kathryn, Abigail, for having gotten killed, and now he was worried that Mary Margaret would be blamed for a crime she didn't commit.
Once the others got there, maybe they could figure something out, but still…
"I don't think that hot chocolate it's gonna drink itself." August said as he suddenly appeared, sitting next to Henry at the counter. "You're upset about your teacher, aren't you?"
"She didn't do it." Henry insisted. "Why can't anyone see that?"
August replied, "Because most people just see what's right in front of them. I don't think you gonna find the answers you want at the bottom of that mug."
Henry said, "My friends are coming over soon. We'll figure something out." Where were they? They were supposed to be hanging out here, right?
An irrational part of him feared that they forgot him too.
"Hey, didn't you have a book a while ago?" August asked curiously.
"Yeah, but someone took it." Henry said before sending August a suspicious look. "Know anything about that?"
August sent him a smirk.
Henry began to open his mouth.
"Easy there." August said. "I'm sure your book will find its way back to you, but what I want to know is how much you remember of its stories."
"Why would that help?" Henry asked, his suspicious growing. "They're just stories."
"I think we both know that's not true." August said before Ruby came along. He simply ordered a glass of water, which Ruby gave him before going to attend to another customer.
"What do you know about my stories?" Henry asked. "Are they why you came to town? Is that why you stayed?"
August paused before saying, "Because we both know they're real."
Henry nearly fell out of his seat in shock. Once he regained his balance, he leaned closer to August. "You think my book is real?"
August leaned forward as well. "As real as I am."
"How do you know?" Henry asked him, wanting to know if he knew about the hearts too.
"Let's just say that I'm a believer." August replied. "And I wanna help others see the light. That, my friend, is why I'm here."
"But I already believe." Henry told him.
"Oh, I'm not here for you, buddy." August said conspiratorially. "I'm here for Emma."
Realization hit Henry. "So you know who she is, who she really is. Wait, but how? Did you come from the Enchanted Forest? Did you-"
"There are some people - like you and me - we can go on faith." August interrupted. "But others - like Emma - they need proof."
"I found proof." Henry told August. "And Emma's seen it, but I still think she's having trouble believing."
"What kind of proof?" August asked curiously, clearly surprised by this information.
Henry was about ready to say what it was before stopping himself. "No." Henry said before leaning back. "First, you tell me why you know what you know."
August tried to play off his hesitation by giving a nonchalant, "Aw, come on, tell me."
"No." Henry denied him. "I'm not about to tell you something super secret for nothing."
August paused for a moment before muttering, "You're more like him than I thought."
"Like who?" Henry asked curiously.
"No one." August lied, and badly too. "On second thought..."
"On second thought what?" Henry asked, now wondering why August had this weirdly guilty look on his face.
"Henry, you here?" Declan's voice asked as he and the others piled into the diner.
"Looks like the gang's here." August said he got up. "Good luck."
"Hey, wait." Henry protested, but soon August left the diner without a glance back.
Declan, who had been eying August the entire time, asked Henry once he was near enough, "What was that all about?"
"I'm not sure." Henry said as he watched August leave the diner.
"Did you hear about what happened to Mary Margaret?" LJ asked as they all took seats at the counter.
"It's awful." Paige commented. "I can't believe they think she killed Kathryn."
"You don't think she did it?" Henry asked before he was bombarded by the group giving him of answers ranging from 'Of course not' to 'Are you serious?'. "Okay, okay, I get it. I don't think she did it either. I think someone's framing her."
"You think it might be your-" Nick started before whispering, "The mayor?"
"I think so." Henry said.
"Why?" Ava asked.
"Becau-" LJ started before someone passed by a little too close for comfort. "Maybe we should talk about this somewhere else."
"Agreed." Henry said before looking at his still half-full hot cocoa. "Um, after I finished my drink?"
The others mumbled their agreement.
"Either way," LJ said. "We would need proof."
"And how would we get proof?" Declan asked.
"We would have to be careful." Henry said, remembering Emma's words from before. "If we messed something up, then something we found that could prove Mary Margaret is innocent could be, what's the word…"
"Tainted?" LJ suggested.
"That's it." Henry said. He hated the idea of doing nothing though. To the others - mostly, because it still looked like they were wrapping their heads around the magic thing - Mary Margaret was an innocent woman. To Henry, that was not only Snow White, but his grandmother, and he wouldn't let Regina take her away from his mom. There had to be something they could do.
Maybe...maybe they could just peek around, and then report back. But where to start? And how to do so without endangering themselves.
"Henry." LJ said with a warning tone and a wary expression. "I could be wrong, but you've got that look on your face that tells me things are gonna suck".
Henry pursed his lips before saying, "I'll explain once I finished my drink. Then we've got some work to do."
Killian watched Phoebe push Mai on the swings, the little one absolutely gleeful as she got higher and higher in the air, a sharp contrast to the morose look on Phoebe's face. Killian was getting worried. Phoebe was losing more and more sleep, but she was tight lipped about what was bothering her. Oh, she said it was school and such, and lately her grades had been slipping, but he knew it was something else. This mood she'd been in had set in long before her grades started going by the wayside, but he didn't know how to get her to open up.
The last time he saw something like that was when Declan had begun to withdraw from people, and nearly died as a result.
"Sister." Killian started, looking over at Sister Astrid from her seat on the bench next to him. "Has Phoebe said anything to you that was...concerning?"
Sister Astrid looked away from the girls to him. "Um, no I don't believe so. Still, she doesn't look good, does she?"
"That's what I was thinking." Killian replied. "Her grades have started to slip, and she's started pulling away more and more, but she won't say what's bothering her."
"Maybe someone's bothering her at her school." Sister Astrid suggested.
"It could be." Killian said, feeling protective and worried at the prospect that someone was hurting Phoebe somehow. "I just don't know how to get her to open up."
"I can try talking to her again." Sister Astrid suggested.
Killian shook his head. "I'll worry about that. You just focus on paying rent to that bastard Gold."
"Don't you know it's unholy to swear in front of a nun?" Leroy asked as she suddenly appeared.
"Leroy, hi." Sister Astrid greeted with a warm smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I, uh, just thought about taking a walk." Leroy said. "I happened to be around, then I saw you two chatting it up and decided to come over.
More like you saw Sister Astrid and wanted to talk to her, Killian thought, remembering what Phoebe had said about Leroy and Sister Astrid.
"You hear about what happened with Mary Margaret?" Leroy asked, looking grimmer than usual.
Killian and Sister Astrid nodded. He couldn't believe it. Mary Margaret of all people was a murderer? No, it was impossible. Besides, why would she want to kill Kathryn? Even if you subscribed to the theory that it was because of David, it didn't make sense. David and Kathryn were divorcing, so murdering her would serve no purpose.
Besides that, Mary Margaret was simply too gentle a person to ever hurt someone, let alone kill them and cut their heart out.
Killian honestly wouldn't have put it past Regina to do it, given her apparent hobby of collecting hearts, but he couldn't very well share that theory now could he?
"I think she did it." Someone nearby said. Killian turned his head, and found a pair of women sitting on the bench, looking at children Killian assumed were theirs.
"Oh, absolutely." The other woman said as more parents gathered around. "I mean, it wasn't enough that she tried to steal Kathryn's husband-"
"You don't know that she did it." Killian said, defensive on Mary Margaret's behalf.
"Isn't it obvious?" Another parent suggested. "I mean, who else would want Kathryn dead?"
"Oh come on." Leroy of all people scoffed. "You think a kindly little schoolteacher is going to cut out someone's heart?"
"But she's not a teacher anymore." Someone pointed out. "She was fired wasn't she?"
"For child abuse." One of the original women pointed out.
"I thought that was only accused." Sister Astrid said.
"If she was accused, then there must be something there." The second woman said haughtily.
"Like how if a used condom and a pregnancy test are found in the trash, there must be something there?" Phoebe suddenly asked, surprising the adults who were caught off guard by Phoebe and Mai's presence.
Mai immediately went to Killian's side, ignoring the looks of everyone, asking him if they could see Lady, who was with Dada at the library.
"Excuse me?" The woman asked with a wary expression.
Phoebe, tired looking and seemingly angry, was only getting started. "You heard me. I wonder what your husband would think if there was a pregnancy test, but for some reason he doesn't know about it."
"Phoebe?" Sister Astrid asked as Killian sat there wondering what the hell she was doing.
Phoebe then turned to one of the men. "Your wife's been in the hospital for awhile right? So why is it that there were a bunch of used condoms in your garbage?"
"What the hell?" The man asked embarrassed.
"I don't know why you're looking at him like that." Phoebe said pointedly to another man with a disgusted look on her face. "You've been throwing away some pretty important notices for your neighbor, isn't that right?"
"Phoebe." Killian warned as he got up, grabbing Mai's hand as he began to pull Phoebe away.
Oh but Phoebe wouldn't be silenced. "You all act like you've never done anything wrong." She said with increasing frustration, her voice nearly choking up as she continued her onslaught. "You all act like you're so innocent and good and look down on Mary Margaret, but you've all got things you want to hide. You're all shitty people and none of you deserve anything!"
"Phoebe!" Killian said warningly before he managed to pull her away from the shocked crowd. Once they had escaped from the sight of the crowd, he made Phoebe stand in front of him. "What in the hell was that?"
"Didn't you hear them?" Phoebe asked, suddenly near tears. "They were all just acting like they'd never done anything wrong, and Mary Margaret is too nice and they just pick on her and-" Phoebe cut herself off after having whipped herself into a frenzy.
"I understand that, but when you talk to people, you don't swear at them or accuse them of things you can't prove." Killian told her, briefly looking down at Mai who looked upset at the fight.
"Maybe I can prove it." Phoebe retorted, though she looked more stressed than proud. "Maybe I saw things, gross things, that would prove that they're horrible people who shouldn't act like they're good people." Phoebe seemed to get more and more upset with tears pricking her eyes. "M-Maybe people aren't good, or at least some of us aren't. Maybe they're liars who use people they u-use to people they love and-"
"Phoebe." Killian started, seeing how she looked ready to dissolve into tears, when Mai also began to cry a little.
"Phoebe, what's wrong?" Mai asked in a small, upset voice.
Phoebe didn't say anything.
Killian sighed, "Come on. We're going home."
Even as Mai started whining, pleading for them to stay just ten minutes longer, five minutes longer, Phoebe just silently went along with it.
Something was eating up Phoebe, but if she refused to say what it was, then how was he going to figure out how to help her?
"I know it seems impossible right now, but try to relax." Ray told Mary Margaret as she paced in her cell.
"Ray, I've been accused of murder." Mary Margaret shot back.
"I know that." Ray told her, noting that she seemed to get more nervous as time went on. "Right now though you need to stay calm and try to keep a level head."
Much like Ray was doing, as he felt a growing headache at everything that had happened recently. The hearts were the biggest thing, though he could at least commiserate with others on that. What he couldn't exactly talk about was just how stressful it was dealing with Emma's custody case and now defending Mary Margaret on a potentially upcoming murder trial. He was still waiting to hear from the agency in Boston about Henry's adoption, just to cover all of his bases. It had taken a lot longer than he would've liked just trying to figure out where the adoption had been handled, which was worrying in and of itself. Now, he had to not only handle that, but he also had to find something that would convince a potentially wishy washy jury that the story of a potential mistress killing the wife wasn't what happened.
He knew that Mary Margaret couldn't have done this, but that didn't mean that others shared his belief.
"Did David call?" Mary Margaret asked. "Is Copper okay?"
"Yes, he's okay." Ray said, remembering the message David relayed to him when he - predictably - couldn't call Mary Margaret. "David got swamped with work, but he's keeping Copper with him for now. He says he'll visit as soon as he can."
Mary Margaret merely nodded to herself, but she clearly on edge, and understandably so. Emma and Graham might not turn up with exculpatory evidence, and if that happened then-
No, Ray thought as clinically as he could. Think of the present. Try to predict potential outcomes, don't get overwhelmed by them.
Ray then said, "Mary Margaret, I need you to promise me that you won't make any rash decisions."
Mary Margaret finally stopped pacing, and gestured to her cell. "Well, I can't do much in here."
"I meant the next time you have to talk to the police or the prosecutor." Ray clarified. "And in the courtroom."
Mary Margaret paused before asking, "You think it's going to get that far?"
"I don't know." Ray told her honestly. "I will say that it's not looking good."
"But I didn't do it." Mary Margaret insisted.
"I know, I believe you." Ray assured her. "That doesn't mean the prosecutor will, and they'll spin the story into their own version of the truth, and in that version you'll be a murderer." Ray then stepped closer to the cell to make sure Mary Margaret paid attention to him. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes." Mary Margaret said, as if it was obvious.
"Then I need you to follow my advice." Ray said seriously. "You can't hide anything from me. Even if you don't think it's important, I need to know so that we don't end up surprised in court. Also, you can't lash out at anyone. Anything you say out of anger could paint you as aggressive, and given the nature of this crime, that's the last thing we need. And, most important of all, when the prosecution asks you something and I tell you not to, listen to me."
Mary Margaret took in his words, and if the gravity of the situation hadn't already sunken in, it certainly did now. People had been ready to believe that she and David had an affair when nothing had happened. Unfortunately, it might not be too much of a stretch for them to think that she was a murderer.
The only thing stopping Mary Margaret from losing it altogether was that she had some allies. Even if Emma and Graham had to be impartial, and she couldn't blame them for that, she at least had Ray to fight for her. She just hoped that it would be enough to get through this.
Mary Margaret nodded. "Alright, I understand. What do you need me to tell you?"
"I just want everyone to know that this is a fucking terrible idea." Declan said as he and the gang sorted through Regina's things in her office.
"Unless you have a better idea, keep looking." Henry said as he continued his own search, thinking about how Declan had been the most anxious to leave Regina's office as soon as possible. Then again, none of them really wanted to be there if and when Regina came back.
"What are we looking for again?" Nick asked.
"Proof that Regina framed Mary Margaret." Henry said.
"I meant something specific." Nick clarified.
"Um...maybe something that proves that she killed Kathryn or something like that." Henry suggested.
"Oh, awesome, we think she definitely murdered Kathryn?" Paige asked incredulously.
LJ replied, "After those hearts that were found in that vault, I wouldn't be surprised.
There had to be something here. It made too much sense for Regina to frame Mary Margaret for Kathryn's murder. Regina cast the curse to hurt Snow White, and Henry wouldn't put it past her to try and hurt her here. There had to be proof, and although he knew that Emma would get mad at him for putting himself in danger again, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"By the way, what'd your uncle say about that?" Ava asked LJ.
LJ replied, "That I should try and stay out of it."
"I still can't believe the adults know." Nick said.
"Yeah, well, at least we know we're not going crazy." Declan muttered under his breath.
It seemed as if Henry was the only person who was taking the revelation that the Curse was real well. Then again, he'd had more time to collect him, and his initial reaction to it wasn't the best. He'd nearly gone two days without eating before Regina made him.
"What's this?" Paige asked as she pulled out a key ring, and many keys hung on it.
Henry stepped forward to look at them, and found that they looked relatively old-looking. Not in terms of them rusting, but that the way they were shaped and the color suggested an antique-look.
"I wonder what that opens." Ava commented.
"Let's find out." Henry said eagerly, already wondering what door or maybe what treasure chest it opened.
"Oh fuck no." Declan immediately denied. "We have no idea when Regina's getting back ,and I don't want a repeat of the last time she caught onto us."
Henry felt a stab of guilt upon remembering how disastrously that went, so he agreed and they left, though not before Paige handed him the keys. As he felt the weight of it in his hands, he began to figure out what they were for.
"We are going to talk about this later." Emma told Henry warningly, feeling somewhat better when she saw the way he gulped, if only because he knew that she was serious. Honestly, she might have to seriously extend how long he's grounded for if he keeps pulling stunts like this.
Emma had been heading back to the loft to pick up some things for Mary Margaret - mainly overnight things - when she was confronted by Henry and his friends. Apparently, they had gotten involved in his breaking and entering, and now they were all standing there watching her.
Henry claimed that they were skeleton keys, and Emma was testing it out because, honestly, by this point she was more than a little ready to believe that Regina was capable of framing an innocent woman for murder. Still, the keys looked too old to fit into a modern lock.
Emma started going multiple keys, and as predicted, the first few didn't work.
And then one of them entered the lock with a click.
You have got to be shitting me, Emma thought as she turned the key, and she nearly gasped along with some of Henry's friends when she was able to open the door.
"Oh my god, she really did it." Ava breathed out. "She framed Regina."
That snapped Emma back into action. "Okay, you all need to head home, right now. No arguing, understand me?"
Some of them obeyed, but three remained behind.
"Graham's still working." Declan said as LJ explained "So is my uncle."
"And I don't want to go home." Henry told her.
Emma didn't want him to go back to Regina's either. So, she said, "Okay, let's go to the station and wait. But no more screwing around, got it?"
The boys nodded, and soon they piled into the Bug and drove back to the station.
"Declan?" Graham asked confusedly as he and Mary Margaret watched the boys come in with Emma. "What are you doing here?"
"You weren't home." Declan replied.
"And they had this with them." Emma said as she subtly showed Graham the skeleton keys, trying to keep them out of Mary Margaret's sight. Not that she didn't trust her, but the fewer people who asked potentially uncomfortable questions, the better.
"Declan." Graham sighed out disappointedly, clearly realizing that the kids hadn't listened to their warnings about staying out of it.
"Ms. Swan!" Regina's voice called out, and instinctively Emma quickly went to her desk and hid the skeleton keys in one of the drawers. Looking up, she found that Henry quickly went to her side, and while LJ was gravitating towards them, Declan had immediately gone to hide behind Graham.
Hardly a second later, Regina burst through the doors to enter the bullpen, an enraged look on her face. However, when she saw Henry, seh visibly smoothed her features. "Henry, what are you doing here? Why aren't you home?"
"I don't want to go home." Henry told her as he remained by Emma's side.
Regina looked from Henry to Emma, and said, "So you've already begun turning my son against me. Henry, go to my car."
"I don't want to!" Henry nearly shouted, and Emma had to place a hand on his shoulder and whisper to him to calm down.
"Henry, I am still your mother." Regina said before addressing Emma. "Even if Ms. Swan is trying to stop that."
Emma gave Regina a hard look, determined not to let Henry go back.
Regina turned to Sheriff Graham. "I know it would be...awkward, to arrest your deputy, but she can't just keep him."
Emma almost felt nervous at the way Graham seemed to try not to smile.
"Actually," Graham said, "I'm afraid that it's come to my attention that you've been neglecting your son."
"Has she been saying that?" Regina asked with a glance at Emma.
"A concerned citizen, actually." Graham replied, making sure to keep Declan behind him, "There are photos of you leaving Henry by himself for hours, to say the least. I've been meaning to tell you this, but I simply have no choice but to remove Henry from your care until the proper authorities arrive."
"What proper authorities?" Regina asked incredulously.
"Child Protection Services." Graham replied.
Emma looked at Graham, wondering what the hell he was doing.
Graham continued, "Storybrooke doesn't have a foster care system, but I would be...remiss in my duties to allow you to have him in your house. For now, Deputy Swan shall house him until the court completes your case."
Regina got this look on her face that set Emma on edge. Her already dark eyes became darker as they seemed to flare with a hatred towards Graham and Emma. Regina was furious because she had been outmaneuvered.
Of course, she could try and call Graham's bluff about CPS, but then that might lead to some uncomfortable questions Regina wasn't willing to answer.
Despite Emma being taken by surprise by Graham's supposed bluff - because he wouldn't actually send Henry to foster care, right? - she was willing to go along with it since it knocked Regina off balance.
Clearly trying to regain control of the situation, Regina straightened her back and said, "Ms. Swan, I think we should carry this conversation somewhere more private. The hallway for example."
Emma agreed, though only because it meant that Regina could leave sooner. After telling Henry that she'd be back soon, Emma went with Regina down the hallway.
Once they were safely out of earshot, all pretense of politeness went out of the proverbial window.
"You must be out of your mind." Regina told her with a hard look. "You actually think I'm going to let you take my son away?"
"Whoa, hold on." Emma said warningly. "You're the one who's been abusing him. Henry is scared of you."
"He is not scared of me." Regina denied.
"He is." Emma shot back. "What, you thought that threatening his friends, calling him crazy, and leaving him alone at the house for hours made you a good mother?"
"At least I didn't give him away." Regina retorted.
Pressing down that old guilt, Emma stood her ground. "Because I thought he was going to a good home, but I was wrong." Emma then stepped closer to Regina and told her in a low voice, "You've been hurting him for years, and you don't even seem to care, because you're too busy blaming everyone else. You're a sociopath, lady. You are toxic and the last thing Henry needs in his life."
Regina angrily said, "I could have you fired. It'd be easy. You're letting your feelings get in the way of your work, and now you've convinced Graham to abuse his authority to help you."
"Graham intervened because he knows that you're a horrible person who shouldn't have kids." Emma told her. "And the only way I'll accept losing my job if you quit for letting your feelings get in the way."
Regina started, "No I have-"
"Yes, you have." Emma hissed out. "We both know you're not above bullying everyone to get your way, and using the fact that you're the mayor to do it. Well, you're not doing that to my kid. Not anymore."
Regina looked at her with utter hatred, and if Emma believed in the curse, she might think that Regina would like nothing more than to rip out her heart.
Luckily for Emma, Regina had no power here, at least for now.
"This isn't over. I will get my son back." Regina told her before she stormed out.
Emma took a few moments to collect herself before heading back into the bullpen.
There she found Graham hugging Declan with one arm as the kid stayed close to him, and LJ was talking with Mary Margaret. As soon as Henry saw her, he jumped up to stand in front of her.
"What'd she say?" Henry asked.
"Nothing I couldn't deal with." Emma told him.
"So it's true?" Henry asked her. "I can live with you."
"For now, yeah." Emma told him. "We have to wait for what the family judge will say, but-"
Henry interrupted her by hugging her around the waist, and she instinctively held him back. "I knew it. I knew you'd help me."
Emma smiled at him as she held on tighter. "Of course I would."
"I can hold down the fort here." Graham told her.
"You sure?" Emma asked as Henry pulled back to break the hug, though he still stayed closer to her.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Graham said. "Besides, I've got two deputies here to back me up, right?"
LJ said "Right" as Declan nodded, keeping close to Graham.
Emma nodded gratefully at Graham, silently and meaningly glancing at her desk - where the keys were in one of the drawers - before she looked at Henry. "Come on kid, let's go home."
She and Henry then went outside, and Emma was making plans on where should get get some pajamas for him at this hour, when Henry exclaimed, "Look!"
Emma watched as Henry raced toward the back of her car, bent down, and then stood up to show her his book.
"Oh wow." Emma commented as she approached Henry, who excitedly held onto his book.
"It's back." Henry told her with a gleeful grin.
"Yeah." Emma said suspiciously, knowing deep down that it didn't get there by accident. "Imagine that."
David walked around town with Copper, trying to give the saddened puppy exercise as it was clear that he wasn't the only one who missed Mary Margaret.
He couldn't believe that anyone would think she could do this. Mary Margaret was sweet, gentle, kind, and...and she wasn't capable of that kind of violence.
However, since it wasn't Mary Margaret, then who was it? Who hated Kathryn enough to do that to her?
Copper whimpered sadly.
"I know, boy." David said. "We'll visit her as soon as we can."
Just then, he and Copper passed the library, and upon seeing Killian through the door, David was struck with the need to commiserate with someone, to know that more people knew that Mary Margaret couldn't have done this, and he went inside.
Almost immediately, Lady raced forward to greet them, and soon she and Copper were rolling around wrestling with each other.
"Hey, be careful." David gently admonished the dogs.
"Lady, no, bad girl." Dada said as she went forward to pick up Lady, who whimpered as she looked at Copper.
Copper whimpered as well, wagging his tail excitedly.
"I think we interrupted playtime." David said. "How have you been, Dada?"
"I've been good." Dada said. "How about you?"
"I've...been better." David told her. "What with Mary Margaret...you know."
"Yeah, I do." Dada said. "She couldn't have done this, right? She's, just, too nice."
"Of course she didn't." Killian said as he came into view. "Dave, how are you?"
"Like I said, I've been better." David said. "I have Copper for now since Mary Margaret is, well, kind of indisposed."
Killian grimaced. "Well, Ray's working her case, so she should be alright."
"What about Kathryn?" David asked. "I'm worried about Mary Margaret, but...they still haven't found the rest of her body."
Dada's expression became somber. "I saw Kathryn's father in town today. He was...he just looked devastated."
David felt a great swell of pity for the man. He couldn't imagine losing a child, especially like that. Worse, like David said, they didn't even have a body to bury.
Dada looked between the men before saying, "Look, I know some people around town think that she's this...murderer, but that can't be right, can it?"
"Of course not." David said immediately as Killian nodded with him. He wondered how she was holding up. After he finished up here, he would make sure to visit Mary Margaret.
Killian's eyes wandered over to a nearby clock. He turned to Dada and said, "You should pack up. He's coming over soon, right?"
"He's already here." A new voice said, and David turned to find a somewhat familiar man standing there. After putting some thought into it, David realized that this was Dada's boyfriend, and that they'd met at Dada's 20th birthday party.
Dada went over to greet Jefferson, giving him a quick kiss on the lips, and David didn't miss the way Killian watched the man suspiciously.
Jefferson then looked between Killian and David and asked, "Hey, you're friends with the sheriff and deputy, right? Do you know what's going to happen to Mary Margaret?"
"She's fine, for now." Killian told Jefferson.
Jefferson looked a little surprised and put off by Killian's curtness.
Dada glared at Killian as she said, "He's just worried about Mary Margaret."
"Aren't we all?" David said.
Dada pursed her lips before quickly gathering her jacket and bag, putting them on before she went over to grab Jefferson's hand. "We should get going." Dada told Jefferson before she pulled him out of the library.
David looked over at Killian and asked, "You're not a big fan of her boyfriend, are you?"
Killian shrugged. "Just don't know him."
"Maybe you should try and get to know him before you start glaring him to death?" David said. When Killian gave him a look, David shrugged. "Just a suggestion."
Killian sighed. "Unfortunately, we've got bigger things to worry about than Dada's boyfriend. And not just Mary Margaret either."
"You mean the-" David cut himself before lowering his voice at the paranoid feeling that someone could be listening. "You mean the hearts."
Killian nodded. "Graham still hasn't gotten word back on what happened to the one he and Emma found, and he's hiding the heart that the kids found."
David shook his head. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around those hearts. I can't imagine what the kids are going through."
"I saw them today." Killian told them. "They were just passing by the library, and it looked like none of them hadn't gotten much sleep."
David nodded grimly. "I don't blame them. We just need to make sure that Regina never realizes what they know."
"As far as I know, she thinks that Henry's the only one who believes." Killian replied.
"Believes?" David asked. "Believes in what?"
Killian hesitated before saying, "The curse."
"Henry's curse." David clarified. "You think it's real."
"After everything we've seen, I can't discount it." Killian said. "As strange as it seems, I can't find any other explanation for what we found."
David felt something tighten uncomfortably in his stomach, and although he was reticent to believe in Henry's curse, he knew that something was deeply wrong in this town.
"Let's just hope it's not true." David told him. "If it is, then we're all in more danger than we thought."
Mary Margaret tossed and turned in her prison cot. She didn't know what to do. David had visited earlier with Copper, and had promised to leave Copper with Emma.
Seeing David had been harder than she thought, but although she wanted so badly to ask him about Kathryn, they had little time to talk before visiting hours were over. She didn't want to spoil it by asking, despite how dissatisfied she felt with herself for not confronting him about it. If it had been nothing, then why wouldn't he just say something?
Mary Margaret sighed, because while it was nice to have more visitors, but that didn't change the fact that Mary Margaret had still been arrested for murder.
Mary Margaret felt something tighten in her throat as she curled up on the cot, taking in shallow breaths as she tried to control her emotions. She was alone in the station, but she didn't want to end up crying now. She felt cold and lonely, and couldn't help but think about how Ray had warned her that this could go to trial.
She was innocent, but she wasn't naive. She knew that it looked pretty bad, and a jury might find her guilty. Or maybe it would be a judge. She couldn't remember Storybrooke having a murder trial, and it just made the situation all the more daunting.
Mary Margaret moved her hand under her pillow to adjust it when she felt something cold and hard. Sitting up, Mary Margaret moved the pillow away, and she was surprised to find a key there. Picking it up, she saw that it looked a little outdated, which only made her wonder why it was there. Did Emma or Graham put it there? If so, why? What could it open?
Mary Margaret looked at the door of her cell, and jokingly thought, Maybe it's the key to my freedom.
...Was it?
Seeing how she couldn't sleep, and that she had nothing else to do, Mary Margaret got up from the bed, key in hand, and walked up to the front of the cell. Reaching through the bars of the cell to maneuver the key into the lock, she didn't expect for the key to go into the keyhole as easily as it did.
She certainly didn't expect for it to easily turn in the keyhole, and for it to unlock the door.
Mary Margaret looked around to see if anyone was there before cautiously opening the door, standing stockstill when she realized that she was now free of her cell.
You can run now, a voice in her head told Mary Margaret. You can just leave and never look back. You can't risk being found guilty.
It was a highly tempting offer, especially since Mary Margaret feared the consequences of staying, but her hand instinctively tightened around the key, and it brought her back to reality.
Who had given her the key? Emma wouldn't, because she needed to be impartial, and she wasn't that reckless. And neither would Graham for those same reasons.
Someone clearly wanted her to leave, but who?
I need you to promise me that you won't make any rash decisions, Ray had told her.
He'd warned her about that in the courtroom though, not in a situation when she could escape.
Ray's words echoed more loudly in her mind - I need you to promise me that you won't make any rash decisions.
If I'm caught escaping, they'll definitely think I'm guilty, Mary Margaret thought worried.
But if I stay, I might be found guilty of something I didn't do, she thought panickingly.
However, if she did leave, she could never come back. She could never stop hiding. She couldn't risk contacting Emma or Henry or David or anyone from Storybrooke without fear of getting caught. She wouldn't have a chance to take Copper with her. She'd forever be on the run.
Which was worse? Leaving her entire life behind on the chance that she'd be found guilty, or staying and taking the risk that she would still be found guilty?
In this case, one option at least had allies, so it was with great disappointment and reluctance that Mary Margaret stepped back into her cell, and shut the door.
She went back to the cot, and put the key back under the pillow, promising herself that she would show Emma and Graham when they came by in the morning.
Get me out of here, Mary Margaret silently pleaded as she laid back on the cot. Someone please set me free.
There it is - Mary Margaret didn't take the bait, but now what does this mean for her trial? Guess you'll have to find out ;)
Also, yay Henry is away from Regina and is living with Emma, but for how long? Guess you'll have to find ou- lol sorry won't do that again.
Furthermore, Graham has yet to reveal to Emma what happened at the hospital with the heart they originally found. Given how everyone's still kind of in shock, you'll have to forgive him.
Let me know what you think in the box down below.
See you same time next week!