Summary: They may have true love, but even Prince Charming and Snow White can have a serious row. Especially when she had sex with two other people! It's Honour's sixth birthday, and a surprise visitor turns up out of the blue. And it looks like Maleficent now has a very special friend.
"You've gone too far, Snow. Ruby, Dorothy, I'm sorry but I need you to leave. I need to speak to my wife. Alone!"
Ruby could tell just by the tone in his voice that he was barely holding it together. The last time she'd heard that suppressed anger, was back in the Enchanted Forest. Just before he skewered one of the Black Knights! Now she felt anxious for her friend's safety.
"You okay, Snow? You want me to stay and-"
"GO!" The angry bellow made them all jolt. "YOU BETRAYED OUR FRIENDSHIP - GET OUT!"
Snow froze, then finally managed a small shake of her head. "It's okay Ruby. You go. We'll talk later."
Once they heard the car pull away, the house fell silent. She turned to walk back into the living room, determined and ready for a fight. She found him standing still by the large bay window overlooking the lawn, his back to her.
"How dare you speak to our friends like that?"
But he said nothing, remaining still, considering his next move.
"Did you hear me? I said how dare you! And how dare you address me like that?"
"How often?"
"What?"
"How often have you had sex with them, without me being here?"
Oh well, here we go. "We haven't. I wasn't like that. We just-"
He spun; his eyes fiery. "ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION, GOD DAMMIT! HOW OFTEN?"
Even when they'd first met, when they'd fought, she'd never seen that look directed at her. She felt a new sensation as he moved, standing right in front of her. Fear. Now she found it harder to get the words out.
"David…"
"ANSWER ME!"
"We never…we haven't…" But she saw by his angry look her denial was only making him worse. "Twice. The last time two weeks ago. But it wasn't what you think!"
"Never mind what I think. Did you, or did you not, have sex with them?"
"Yes…" she lowered her head, unable to look at him. "But it wasn't planned."
"Tell me everything. Leave nothing out."
So, she told him. About the three of them all waking up with hangovers after the girls' night out. About breakfast. About joining them in the shower, to save water. About how it escalated, but missing out the more graphic details. Then she told him about a brief encounter with the pair the week following. When he was on night shift. As far as she was concerned, it wasn't full-blown sex, it was just fumbling. All the while she explained, trying not to hide anything, he just stood, impassive, looking out the window, listening.
"It wasn't planned. It just happened. It's Ruby and Dot, for goodness sake! The mothers of your son? Just like me. We've both slept with them plenty of times before, so it's hardly the same thing is it?"
"You knew the rules, Snow. We all did. That was the basis we all went into this. You can't talk you way out of this, not this time. You cheated on me!" Although his anger had subsided, it had been replaced by something so much worse. "In all our years together, no matter what hair-brained scheme you came up with, I went along with it. From not banishing the Evil Queen when we had the chance, to stealing Maleficent's egg, to sending Emma away. To even letting you be with Ruby sometimes before we married. And I did it because I believed you were mine and I was yours. We were one, true and faithful. I trusted you with everything. But by committing adultery – you've betrayed that trust."
"It's hardly adultery, David! Please don't say that!"
"You may not like the word, but that's exactly what it is! Adultery! I'm sorry, but I can't even look at you. I fact, I don't think I can even be in the same house as you right now. I'm leaving."
"Leaving? What do you mean? For how long?"
"I've no idea..." He turned away, heading upstairs to gather his things, as she stared in disbelief.
He'd only been gone two hours. But they felt like two of the longest hours of Snow White's life. He didn't say where he was going; and he didn't say when he'd be back. And at first, she'd just watched him packing a bag, knowing he'd calm down eventually, he'd stop sulking, and then they could talk. But what she also knew, was that she'd never seen that look on his face before.
She thought about ringing Ruby back, but decided against it when she heard a key in the lock.
But it wasn't Charming; it was Neal, stomping through the front door and dropping his keys on the little table nearby.
"Hi, mum!" he yelled, striding into the living room. "Robin just dropped me off."
"Hello milady," said Regina's husband and former outlaw, coming in behind him. "I got a phone call from David asking me if I could collect your lad and drop him back here."
"Oh. Er, thank you Robin, that's kind of you." She straightened her skirt as she stood, trying to compose herself. "Did he by any chance tell you where he was going?"
"No. He sounded a little flustered. It was a quick call. Like he had to be somewhere. How're you?"
"Fine, thank you." She answered, half-heartedly. "How's the family?" Although she asked politely, even Robin could tell her mind was elsewhere.
"Busy, noisy and exhausting, as usual!" Then he noticed how she turned away, virtually ignoring her son. "Snow, if you don't mind me asking, are you really okay? You don't sound like it."
"No, I'm fine, really. If you see David, could you ask him to call me?"
"Of course. Shall I be seeing you at the birthday party tomorrow?"
"Birthday party?"
That surprised him. Her head really was somewhere else! "Honour's? I know you have Elizabeth's the next day, but I thought Regina spoke to you? I know Emma and the girls are coming."
"Oh yes, of course. Sorry, my mind was…anyway, yes, I'll be coming."
"Good. Snow, look, there's clearly something bothering you. I can tell you're upset about whatever it is. Do you want to talk about? I'm a pretty good listener, you know? And I can always keep a confidence. Even from my own wives, when it's required."
She knew he was always a kindly, calm man. Hell, he needed to be, married to Regina! But she didn't feel this was something she could talk about. "Thank you, Robin. Yes, there's something on my mind…but…well, it's personal and something I need to talk only to David about. We had a bit of an argument before he left a couple of hours ago, but it's fine."
"Happens in all marriages, doesn't it? I should know! But at least you two are always so open and honest with each other. Full of respect for one another, an example to all. I'm sure you'll sort it out. Still, must go…"
Honest? Respectful? It was then her mind went back to what had triggered it all. That shower! She remembered how it started. How could he have reacted so badly? Then she thought about what they'd agreed before Ruby became pregnant with Nathaniel. How she'd pushed him into it, until he finally agreed. And how although they'd enjoyed themselves since, as two couples, it was on the express agreement that nothing could ever happen unless all four of them were involved, and willing. Then her mind went back to that shower, and how nobody even gave a thought to David at the time. Would she have been the same, had it been him in the shower?
And now, it was beginning to finally dawn on her that he had a point. That even though they had both slept with the couple, it was always as a couple themselves, never on their own. But now? It wasn't really cheating, was it? But the longer she brooded, she realised that yes, without him being there, or him agreeing, that's exactly what it was. Adultery!
She reached for her phone, calling one of the memory dial numbers.
"Snow? I was going to call you. It's been hours! You okay?"
"Ruby, have you seen David?"
"Not since we left you. But Dot said she saw him drive down Main Street an hour ago. I wanted to check you're okay after this morning, but it's been a bit busy here. What happened?"
"He bellowed at me, packed and left! I was waiting for him to cool off and call. Could you let me know if he calls in?"
"Pretty unlikely he's going to call in here, don't you think? Not after what he said to me and Dot! But I'll let you know. Want one of us to come over?"
"Best not; it could make things worse if he comes back. I'll try Emma."
"Snow…" there was a pause on the line. "I'm sorry. I know what we did wasn't in the spirit of what we'd all agreed, but he shouldn't have gone off at you like that!"
"He was right though, wasn't he? Even if it was with you two, I committed adultery! God, I feel sick!"
"Don't be like that. It could just as easily have been him in that shower, couldn't it?"
"That's just it, he wouldn't! And you know he wouldn't. I know him well enough, and he'd never do that to me. No, I've fucked up really badly, Rubes."
"No, we fucked up badly. And somehow, we have to make it right."
"You know what's the worst thing? When he said it. When he said I'd betrayed him, I saw the look in his eyes. It wasn't anger. It wasn't even pain. It was…hate!" As she said the last words, she felt herself breaking down again, as the pain started to overwhelm her.
"Now you look here, Snow White. David could never hate you. Never! We'll get this fixed somehow. Look, I'm going to leave here in an hour, when Mike starts his shift. I'm coming over!"
"No Rubes. No…"
"No buts! I'll jog over. If I see his truck in the drive, I'll turn around and go."
When she ended the call, Ruby sighed loudly. What the fuck have we done? Putting the phone down on the counter, she turned to get her apron from under the counter. That's when she spotted a pair of hard green eyes staring back at her.
"What the hell have you done this time, Ruby Lucas?"
The Sheriff's Office
She charged out of the little station bathroom as soon as she heard the phone ring, having just missed the one on her mobile as it lay on the desk.
"Sheriff's office. Swan speaking."
"Emma…"
Even with just one word, she instantly recognised the voice. "Mum? Was that you on the other phone? Sorry, I couldn't pick up."
"Is your father there?"
"Dad? No, he isn't working till Monday. I thought he was home today. Why?"
"Could you…just ask him to call me if you see him?"
"Sure," Emma could tell by the tone, she was stressed. "You tried his phone? Left him a message?"
"He's not answering. Okay then, see you…" and then she hung up.
"What the hell?" Snow never ended the call like that. If anything, she usually wanted to chat for hours, getting in the way of her work. She leant across to grab her cell phone.
'Emma: Dad, can you call? Mum's trying to reach you.'
She thought no more about it for an hour, as she sat hunched over her desktop, working her way through the files, inputting all the arrest notes, reports, and financial statement for the last two weeks, onto the screen. Admittedly, it was so much easier than when she first arrived in Storybrooke, fifteen years ago. When a hard-ass Mayor Mills was determined to drive her mental with paperwork. Now, it was relatively straightforward to input everything into the desktop. But she was still terrible at admin and, unlike her father (Hank Morgan had moved away), frequently let the backlog build. Now, she was so focused, she didn't hear a visitor come in.
"Everything okay, Sheriff Swan?"
She jerked up, violently. "Jeez! Mr. Mayor? You scared the shit out of me!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb. You were obviously miles away. Problems?"
"No…I just needed to catch up. I know your other sheriff is a lot more diligent with this stuff…"
"Don't worry about it. Like you, and me for that matter, David hates all the admin that goes with the job. You should see my paperwork - I'm a soldier, for goodness sake!"
"Well you've had the job eight years, Phil. And done a pretty good one, at that."
"Thanks. I would chuck it in, but nobody seems to want it these days! I mentioned it to Regina, and asked if she was interested in doing it again, and she just laughed in my face!"
That made her chuckle. "That I can believe. Horses, that's her world these days. Still, can I help you with something, or are you just here to check up on a sheriff who's crap at paperwork?"
"Neither. I just called in to see how you were. And to know whether you've heard from David?"
"Dad? Mum was asking the same thing. Why'd you ask?"
"Well oddly enough, I had Snow call me too, sounding rather agitated. Mulan said she'd also called her. Rory too. I gather there's a few people looking for him, including the dwarves?"
"You mean he's gone missing? I thought he just hadn't phoned her, or something. Shit."
The Diner
Unbeknown to Ruby, Granny had heard everything! The old wolf's hearing may not have been as sharp as in her youth, but it was still a darn site better than any humans. And as the now-retired former owner of the café that still bore her name over the door, she cast a cold, hard glare over her granddaughter. A glare that could scare many a rowdy customer rigid.
"What the hell have you done, Ruby Lucas?"
"Granny! It's…nothing. We're sorting it."
"Don't lie to me, girl! You think my old ears can't hear a phone five feet away? What's going on?"
"I can't…I can't discuss it. It's private."
"Clearly it isn't. I heard her! What's this about showers? And adultery? Why is Charming angry, and more importantly, what the hell's it got to do with you?"
"I really can't say! It's between the two of them. I just can't…" as she withered under the hard glare, the front door opened, Regina entering with Honour, followed by Marian and Elizabeth.
"Hi ladies! Hi girls!" Ruby was grateful for the distraction, getting up to greet them. "Lovely to see you all. Take a seat and I'll be right over…" As she rushed to collect two menus, the beady eye of her grandmother never left her.
"I'm not finished with you yet," Granny growled under her breath. "Not by a long chalk."
Half an hour later, and word of Charming's disappearance, prompted by Mulan phoning Leroy, had started to spread. It didn't take long for more than twenty people to get involved with the search. Then Mulan and her wife appeared in the diner.
Marian saw them first. "Mulan, Rory? Hello you two. Come on over. Haven't seen you since the night out. Come sit with us?"
"Hi. Well, maybe just for a couple of minutes? Ping's got to get back on the search. I'm going to drop Phil's lunch at the town hall, so we just stopped by for a couple of coffees."
"Search?"
"Haven't you heard? David Nolan's missing!"
Regina looked up. "Charming? Since when?"
"This morning. Apparently Snow called around, but nobody's seen him. Have you?" Before she could answer, Leroy burst into the diner, spotting Mulan. "He went over the town line! Doc saw his car a couple hours ago."
"He's done what?" Regina was horrified. "But he hasn't got any magic! Without that, he'll lose all his memories! And without a scroll, he won't even be able to get back in! Has anyone told Emma?"
The moment Emma had been told by the more sensible of the dwarves, she tried to call Regina before breaking the news to her mother. She even teleported over to the mansion. Then she picked up Regina's text telling her where she was, she headed straight for the diner, flustered.
"Why would Charming do something so stupid? He knows the risks. What's going on?"
"I have no idea. Mum called me and she sounded flustered. Something's happened. I think they may have had a row?"
"A row? With Charming?" Regina's brow arched in disbelief. "Unlikely; he never argues with her. She just browbeats him, until he finally caves in and goes along with any stupid idea she comes up with!" As she said it, Ruby exchanged a look with Dorothy, cringing inside. The stupid idea about helping them have children? "He's just…what's that horrid term Henry uses?"
"Pussy-whipped." Emma remembered her son had once called her that, for always agreeing with Regina, against him. But then she spotted the hard scowl that Granny was giving her granddaughter. "Ruby, do you know something? You're as close to my mum as anyone. Do you know what they were arguing about?"
The wolf felt all eyes on her and knew the blonde could always detect a lie. "Well…I spoke to Snow a couple hours ago. She said there'd been an argument, and David was very angry. Then he stormed off. I was going to go over there to see her when I finish my shift."
"What was this row about?"
"That's for her to say, Emma, not me. So, you best ask her yourself…"
"I will. But first, I've got a father who's gone over the town line. Meaning he may have lost all his memories and wouldn't know who the hell he is, let alone where he is! He's been gone over four hours, so he could be anywhere. And I'm not going to tell mum till I know something! Gina – ideas please?"
"Well, we could use a tracking spell and potion, if you have anything on you belonging to him? It may not work when you're past the town line, but it's possible. Still, I'd need to make up more potion, which could take the best part of a day."
"A day? We'd have lost him completely by then!"
"Well, we both know there's only one person who keeps a stock of that sort of thing, don't we?"
"Gold? Brilliant. He hates my guts. Right now, he wouldn't piss on me if I was on fire! Only Henry has that sort of influence over-"
"Hello, Angus?" Marian was already on her cell phone. "Hello Angus, it's Marian. Yes wonderful, thank you. And you?" As she spoke, Regina and Emma both mouthed the same word to each other. 'Angus?'
"I'm so pleased. Listen Angus, I confess I've…no, we've run into a problem. It's rather urgent, I'm afraid. May I pop over and see you?" she listened for half a minute, the others looking at her, frustrated. "That's kind of you. Okay, I'll be over shortly, and I may well be bringing Regina or Emma, or both. Is that…okay, wonderful. See you in a few minutes? And thanks, again…"
As she ended the call, all eyes had switched to her, Emma intrigued. "Did you really just call the Dark One, Angus?"
"Why not? It's his name. He and Belle have been very helpful to me since I arrived here, and really, let's face it, I'd possibly never have got my Roland back. if it hadn't partly been for him! I'll just pop over there and ask for this 'tracking potion' thingy."
"Then I'm coming too," Regina insisted. "I don't trust the imp; despite everything you've said!"
"I'm coming as well," Emma added. "It's my dad, after all!"
"Fair enough. But just as neither of you trust him, understand that he doesn't trust you, either. So, if you two are wanting to come with me, you play nice, you leave all the talking to me. Is that clear?"
Regina nodded. She secretly loved that side of Marian. The confident, slightly dominant tone Marian used, albeit rarely. Robin did the same thing, on rare occasions, and she always found it quite the turn on, even if she'd never admit it to either of them. Though she suspected they both knew it anyway. Bastards.
Gold's Antiques – fifteen minutes later
Marian used the knocker to rap on the shop door.
"Just turn the handle, already?" Emma insisted, twitching. "It's nearly always open anyway."
"No. The sign says, 'please knock', Emma. Do you really want to piss him off now?" As if on cue, the door silently opened, the three women walking in, Marian leading.
As she walked up to the counter, the Dark One appeared. When he recognised the visitor, his mouth and eyes went into a broad smile. "Marian. How delightful to see you…" then as he spotted the other women walking in behind her, the smile faded just as quickly. "Though I see you've also brought the other Mrs. Locksley and Sheriff Jones? Ladies, seldom a pleasure…"
"Oh Angus, don't." Marian wasn't in the least bit perturbed. "I'm sorry to distract you from whatever you were doing, but we've run into a problem that needs urgent attention. Help of a magical nature I believe."
He eyed the other two as they hung around near the door. "Problem? Please go on."
"It appears David Nolan had some sort of argument with his wife, and ended up driving over the town line. I'm told it makes your memories disappear, and I gather it's a real problem getting back? So somehow, we need to track him down, bring him home and restore his memories. Angus, his poor wife is desperate! I'm hoping you could help. Please?"
He smiled a sad smile. "You do understand that I'm bound by the rules of the Dark One? That if I did this, you would have to be in my debt?"
"I understand that. And I could be willing to owe you a debt, on the proviso my settlement wouldn't affect another soul detrimentally, in any way."
"The debt would always be to the Dark One, not me, which I'll admit can be a little confusing. Interesting how you use the word soul, instead of person, Mrs. Locksley? I suspect that's deliberate and think you could have been a lawyer in this realm." His eyes skimmed across to Emma, who was fidgeting anxiously. "However, I'm happy to report that on this occasion, my services will not be required."
Marian gave him a puzzled frown, but he carried on. "You see, Prince Charming came in to see me several hours ago. He requested a means to exit the town, without losing his memories, and be able to return. I gave him the means to do both, as I did for him and his wife some years ago."
"Meaning he's now in your debt?" Regina knew that was always bad news.
"No. Oddly enough, the Dark One was already in his debt. We are now even."
"So, he can get back?" Emma felt a weight lift. "Did he say how long he'll be away?"
"Yes to the first, no to the second. The prince seemed…troubled. I didn't ask for details."
"Thank you, Angus..." Marian moved around the counter, walking up to him and gave him a light hug, kissing his cheek. Apart from his immediate family, and Henry, no one hugged the Dark One. "…for helping him. Do let Belle know we're still on for coffee tomorrow?"
He nodded, giving her the sort of warm, friendly look he'd never used with the other two women, and Regina silently marveled at just how easily her wife was able to win affection from everyone who met her. Robin and Roland had the same easy charm. So unlike her!
"You're welcome. And you let Roland know his bicycle repair is finished? If he calls me first, he can come around and collect it."
"Wonderful. Well, we'd best be off. Sorry for taking up your valuable time."
Two minutes later, standing outside, Emma looking at Marian, mystified. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Get Gold eating out of your hand? Anyone else, he'd bite your hand off!"
"I guess I treat him the way I want to be treated! He's a fascinating man, when you get to know him."
"The fact she's a consummate flirt with everyone she meets, seems to help." Regina added.
The Nolan Farm
Ruby walked into the farmhouse just after Snow received a text from David. Throughout the day, she'd sent over forty texts, and left nearly twenty voice messages. Until his first text back, five hours after he'd left, he hadn't replied to any of them. Emma had called two hours earlier to let her know what they'd found out at Gold's.
"He just sent me this. Look…" she handed Ruby the phone.
'David: I need some time to think. I'll be back.'
Then another text, equally blunt:
'David: Robin will drop Neal off.'
Ruby sighed as she read the terse messages. David was usually so gushing in proclaiming his love for Snow that she regularly used to show her friend some of the texts he sent. But this time there were no 'ILY's, no little heart icons or flowers, nothing. In all their years together, despite their ups and downs, he'd never treated her like that. And Ruby had yet to tell her that her husband had driven over the town line. Had Emma? What would she do if he couldn't get back? How would she take him losing his memories? Of his children. Including her own son! And what about Dorothy? She just found out she was pregnant. Would the child ever know its father?
"Emma phoned. She's going to be coming over here soon. She said she went to Gold's and learned something, but she wouldn't tell me till she got here. "He's going to leave me, Ruby. I just know it!"
The wolf sat down beside her, wrapping a protective arm around her shoulder. "Snow, please don't say that? Yes, he's angry, and I suppose he has every right to be. But let's face it, it was just a quicky in the shower, wasn't it?"
"Not to David! We had an agreement, Rubes. Between all four of us. And I broke it!"
"WE broke it. We just let the moment get the better of us. He'll understand. No, he just needs time to cool off. I know him nearly as well as you do, and he will, trust me. Now, why don't you go and get yourself a bath and cleaned up? Because he may come back before you know it and damn, girl, you look like shit right now!"
Her friend, who looked utterly exhausted, having spent the last few hours crying between texts, calls and emails crying, stood. "I guess you're right. Could you keep an eye on Neal for me? He's outside with the dog right now. He keeps asking me what's wrong, but I don't know what to say?"
"Just tell him you and his dad had an argument, and you both just need time to cool off. And then-" but she was interrupted by a key in the front door. Looking up from the sofa, in the vain hope it could be David. It wasn't.
"Mum? How are you…" one look at her mother's face told Emma she wasn't doing well. She looked like she hadn't slept for a week! Her eyes were sunken and her face grey. "Holy crap, are you okay?"
"Not really Emma, no. You said you had news?"
"Yeah. First, it seems dad skipped town. He went over the town line-"
Without warning, Snow silently slumped to her knees in shock, knowing full well the implications. She looked up at her daughter, jaw dropping in horror.
"No mum, it's okay! He saw Gold first! He's got something to protect his memory. And get back here…" Her mother's look of horror changed into one of confusion. "It's true. So, we know he can get safe, but we don't know when. He took his own truck, not a patrol car. And I guess he's had his phone turned off, so I can't track him either."
"Emma," Ruby spoke for the first time. "She got a text from your dad a few minutes ago. He just said he'll be back, but no details."
"You've heard from him? Why didn't you – can I see?"
Snow was about to hand her the phone but stopped herself. "Emma, there's lots of personal messages in there. I'd rather you didn't see. But Ruby's right, he just said he needed time to think, that Neal's been taken care of by Robin, and he'll be back. But I never realized he must have sent them from over the town line!"
"So what the hell was the row about? It must have been serious, to make him leave like that?" As she said it, she saw Snow exchange an awkward glance with the other woman. "Is this about Ruby? What's going on?"
"Emma…I'm sorry, but I really can't tell you. This is between your father and I; it has nothing to do with Ruby." Emma immediately picked up on the lie at the end. "But we did have a very heated argument and he stormed off. I'm sorry, but that's all I'm prepared to say."
Mifflin Street – the following evening.
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you…" Marian lowered the candle-lit cake down in front of their eldest daughter, "…happy birthday, dear Honour. Happy birthday to you!" The little brunette excitedly made her wish and blew on the candles, to a resulting cheer from everyone.
As Marian kissed her cheek before starting to slice it up, Regina and Robin looking on proudly, flanked by Emma and Killian, who's girls were also at the table.
"Growing too fast, aren't they mate?" Killian grinned at his friend. "What with your boy being particular popular with the ladies, we'll you calling you grandpa soon!"
"Well technically, old boy, aren't you several hundred years older than any of us? Judging from your past, there'll be plenty of great parents sired by you out there…" as Robin snarked back, he spotted Emma's frown. "Sorry, Emma."
"It's okay. Goes with the territory I guess, being married to someone old enough to be your great-great-great-great-whatever!"
Robin dropped his voice, almost to a whisper. "How's your mum?"
"Not good. She couldn't face anyone today and she hasn't answered the phone. Ruby and Dorothy are taking it in turns to go over…"
"Should I go over there?" Regina offered. "I didn't want to intrude, but perhaps I -" She was interrupted by a loud rap on the door knocker. Only Killian used the knocker instead of the doorbell, but he was already here.
When she opened it, she was greeted by a tall blonde man carrying several large boxes; the man who was the main subject of most conversations in Storybrooke since yesterday!
"Hello, Regina! I brought a few presents over for the children. May I come in?"
"Charming? What on earth…yes, yes, come on in. Emma's here, and your grandchildren." She saw the uncomfortable look. "But Snow's at home. Not feeling well, apparently. Come on through."
"Oh! Well…I'll only stay a little while. I've also brought someone with me. He's just fetching some of the other boxes from the truck…"
"More boxes? Well someone's been shopping?" Then she spotted just who the other person was as he came into view. "HENRY!" she gasped, hardly believing her eyes!
"Hi mum," he quickly put the parcels to one side, before engulfing her in his arms. "Surprise?"
"I'll say! I had no idea you were even in the country! What on earth…?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise. I planned it last month and flew in Thursday. I didn't want to miss yet another of Honnie's birthdays either. But I'm here for a couple of weeks."
Tears started to run, and she had to wipe several off his jacket. "So, what are you doing with Charming?"
"Pure coincidence. Gramps and I set up a call every few weeks. He was the only one who knew I was coming over, and kept it secret. Yesterday he said he was out of town too, and suggested we meet in Portland first. So, we did."
"Well it's wonderful to see you. You couldn't have timed it better. We've just cut the cake." Then she looked across at Charming. "David…I suggest you let Henry go in first? For Emma's sake?"
As expected, Henry walking through and into the dining room had quite the effect! A shocked Emma hugged him to her, every bit as tightly as Regina had, and the next ten minutes were spent in hugs, happy tears and kisses with his increasingly large family, all delighted at the surprise visitor.
David stayed back in the hallway, just out of sight, until Regina placed a hand on her arm. "Emma, Henry brought someone with him…" That was his cue.
"Dad?" It had only been a few days since she'd seen him last, but knowing he'd just upped and left town yesterday, it was still a shock. He gave her a warm, albeit sad, smile. "What are you-"
"I brought some presents over. For the birthday girl and the children. I've got Elizabeth's for tomorrow too." He stepped up to her and hugged her. "I was expecting to find your mother here, but Regina said…"
She dropped her voice to a whisper. "She's not taken it well dad, you just disappearing like that, even if you were angry! She won't tell me what's going on. Why did you leave? Where did you go? What happened?"
"I needed to get away, because frankly, I was too angry. I went to Martha's Vineyard, to Hank's place. I needed time to think. As to what happened, that's a discussion between your mother and me. I'm sorry. I'll give out the presents to the children, say hello, then I'll head home."
"I've been really worried about you too, for god's sake! How could you run off like that without talking to me, your own daughter?"
"Again, I'm sorry. Perhaps running away from talking about problems is a family trait?"
An hour later he walked into the farmhouse, leaving his keys on the table, seeing nobody around. He finally found Snow in the living room, sitting on their sofa, with Ruby sat beside her, going through something on her knee. Neither of them looked up, which was odd, seeing as they must have heard the noise of his truck pulling up. So he assumed they had been tipped off by Emma on his way over.
Snow finally looked up at him, seeming drained, having clearly not slept. But she stayed silent, watching him. As he moved closer, he could clearly see one of their photo albums on her knee.
"Hi," he put his jacket over a chair, walking over to the bay window, to look out over the farm.
"Hi? Is that it?" her voice sounding calmer than she felt. "You disappear, leaving Storybrooke. Leaving me worried sick. I send you countless messages, but you send just one, saying you'll be back, but not when?"
"I needed time to think. To be anywhere but here."
"Well before you say what I think you're about to say Charming, I need to say something first?" He nodded, but he still didn't turn round to face her, just continuing to look outside.
"David, I'm sorry. I really am. I would give anything to turn back time and stop what happened, but I can't." She felt Ruby squeeze her hand, giving her a sad smile. "It was a stupid impulse, which I acted on. Wrongly. You said I committed adultery and, I suppose I did. It was unforgiveable, and I regret it. But I honestly thought our relationship with them was somehow…different. The four of us may have started something, just to get one of them pregnant; but let's face it, it changed didn't it? How many times have we all been together since Natty was born? So I guess I just didn't think!"
Ruby also needed to speak. "It wasn't only Snow's fault, David. Dot and I just got carried away. Like her, we just got, I don't know, complacent, I guess. If you'd been there, in that shower with us, instead of Snow, perhaps the same thing might have happened? She's right, it was stupid, but it was human! And yes, like she said, we regard you two as a hell of a lot more than the means to make a baby. And it isn't just friends with benefits. It isn't just the sex, though that's been great. It's you two! You're special. We're kind of in love with the pair of you. Not just Snow, but you too!"
"So…if you're going to leave me, David. If you are going to end our marriage, all because of a stupid mistake I made, you better tell me now and get it over with? Because I can't face another day like this!"
Charming's shoulders slumped, but he still didn't turn round. "When I left here, I drove to Hank's place. Martha's Vineyard, where we went a few years ago?"
That was a shock. "You went that far, just to get away from me?"
"The drive gave me time to think. About us, and what I said to you. I'm sorry I lost my temper like that, but you left me feeling so…angry, because you dismissed it! I thought I might do something stupid."
"David…"
"No, let me finish. I lost it, because I was hurt. I felt betrayed by the very last person I ever imagined would betray me. But…after I left, I eventually calmed down, and got to thinking. About us. And about Ruby and Dot and our unusual situation. And I realized, I'd overreacted. For that, I'm sorry."
"You had your reasons. But, are you saying we can move on from this?"
"I think so. But we need to change the rules."
Ruby stood. "I agree. You don't need the two of us threatening your marriage. We all got a bit too complacent, and this is what's happened. So, we'll step away. But I would still like you both to be in Natty's life. He thinks of you both as his parents too, and I'd hate for-"
"No Ruby, you've got the wrong end of the stick! I don't want you to step away."
"Then what?"
"Perhaps we need to open things up, a little more. Here's what I'm thinking…"
Mifflin Street
With all the children tucked safely up in bed, the two couples and Henry shared drinks out in the conservatory, under the clear moonlit sky. Regina and Emma brought more wine and snacks out.
"I've really missed this," Henry took a swig of his beer, leaning back in his chair. "You guys, I mean. I'm loving Oxford but…it's nice to be home."
"We can't wait for you to come back, Hen." Emma stroked his arm. "Only another year, right?"
"Yeah. I've done enough travelling. I might stay in Boston when I finish, but I'll spend more time here, too."
"Honour was thrilled when you walked through the door!" Regina squeezed his hand. "Charlotte, too. I can't wait for you to get back for good. I know we have Skype and everything else, but you're still living thousands of miles away and five hours ahead. I need to see my prince more often!"
Robin could see him getting pressured, so he changed the subject. "I was sorry you broke up with your lady friend last year. Anyone else on the scene? Any fair English girls captured your imagination?" He partly regretted the question when he saw an odd look in the young man's eyes, and both his mothers spotting it!
"Sort of. There's someone I've been seeing for about a year now. She's not English and she's not from over here. But she's planning on coming back with me. She's kinda…from another realm."
A Year? That alone piqued Regina's interest. "And does this realm-jumping girl have a name?"
"Jacinda. In the other realm she was called Ella Tremaine. She's sort of another realm's version of our Cinderella, so her parents died."
"Tremaine? Marcus Tremaine's daughter?"
"Yeah. You should get a chance to meet here in a few months. I was going to ask her to join me here for Christmas, if that's okay?"
"Well, I guess-" but Regina's words were drowned out by an enormous from above, causing them all to look up into the cloudless moonlit sky.
"Hey look!" yelled Henry, delighted to see the enormous figure of a dark metallic grey dragon shooting past, climbing rapidly into the sky, silhouetted by the moon. "Mal's back! I need to get a photo. Mum, are you two still friends?" Since she'd got her daughter back, the former Mistress of All Evil had been a rarely seen figure around the town.
"Yes dear. Some of us saw her, and her daughter Lily, a few weeks ago, when they joined us on an evening out at a nightclub."
"And she's not alone! Look!" Robin yelled, as another figure rose into the sky from the same direction, heading straight for her. As it drew closer, the outline of another dragon, significantly bigger than Maleficent, swooped under and around her. The two dragons pulled higher, encircling each other as they climbed, almost in formation, as they called to one another in a deep, resonating moan.
"That's not Lily!" Emma immediately became worried. "Regina, the colours on the big one? The purple back and the green belly? It's huge, but it's not Lily!"
All eyes were fixed on the noisy pair in the sky (as no doubt, were many of the other residents) as they came closer in their odd little aerial dance. With another loud call, As the figures climbed even higher they became smaller. Below they could just about see a turn as they came together, face-to-face. As they levelled, the two dragons appeared to hang in mid-air, with the larger now facing her, it's tail now wrapping itself around hers, and the enormous wings doing likewise. Out of sight, four claws dug tightly into Mal's tough shell-like skin, and the smaller dragon did likewise, binding them both together.
Then they fell!
The large conjoined figures now plunged in free-fall from the sky, hurtling towards the ground and, for a moment, Regina heart stopped as she felt sure she was about to witness her old friend die!
However, less than a couple of hundred feet above the ground, the pair suddenly broke apart before they hit it, each turning dramatically away to pull back up, as swiftly as a swallow catching insects on the wing.
"FUCK!" gasped Henry, holding his phone camera, having filmed the last minute as everyone else watched, open-mouthed. "That was seriously impressive!"
"I once read that's what they did," Killian shook his head in disbelief. "Though I never imagined for a minute, I would ever witness it. We're blessed!"
"What?" Emma and Marian said, almost as one.
"The dragons' mating flight? That plunge? The other one was definitely male!"
"Regina?" Marian smirked at her wife. "Do you suppose that's our nightclub owner, by any chance?"
"I believe it could well be. Perhaps the Sheriff here should go over and charge him with public indecency?"
"That was Guido? You've got to be kidding me?" said the blonde. "As for arresting him for indecency, you can sod right off! Did you see the bloody size of him?"
