Summary: The real reason for David's anger is revealed. And it isn't just because of recent events. Following Rumple's revelation, it seems the problem went back a lot further, to just after their wedding. All is revealed. Is the marriage of the most romantic couple in history finally over?

The Nolan Farm

Despite David having earlier told Emma he was heading home, it was nearly seven in the evening when he finally drove back to the farm, some three hours after he'd left the riding centre. Snow had been waiting patiently for his return, growing increasingly anxious as the day wore on. It was now two full days since he'd come back over the town line, and what he'd told her then had only made things worse than ever.

When he left home two days later, he said he'd would be back, but wouldn't say when. Just as he did when he fled the town, he left no voice or text messages to his wife from his phone. Knowing it was best, given the situation, not to message or text him, Snow instead used her own network of friends and former loyal palace staff to track him, keeping her posted on where he appeared, and hopefully, what he was doing. So she already knew he'd been in Granny's mid-morning, was seen going into Rumpelstiltskin's mansion an hour later, before being seen in Henry's car with his grandson. After that, he'd simply vanished off the face of the earth.

Prior to him leaving the first time, from the moment they'd first become lovers, she and Charming had always vowed to settle any quarrel or differences before going to bed. "Never let the sun go down on your wrath!" Snow's mother had once told her; one of the wisest pieces of advice she'd ever been given. But now, his wrath seemed to be simmering, just below the surface.

And most of it was based on what David had found out after walking out on her, over a week ago. After he'd called in on the Dark One for help leaving the town. And when he returned from Martha's Vineyard, he told her something that was going to change their relationship (if they were to have one again) forever.

And she knew it was all her fault.

Two nights ago - Charming's return.

"You know, I spent quite some time, just looking out over the dock at Vineyard Haven. Just watching the ferry boats come and go, and figuring out what I should do next..." He stood staring out at the farm from the bay window, while the two women sat on the sofa, listening. "When I first left town, I just thought to myself, 'That's it, my marriage is over! I best figure a way to move on.'"

Ruby squeezed Snow's hand tightly, knowing how much that would have stung! "But that was just my anger talking. I could never just up and leave like that! After all, I've got Neal, Emma…and Nathaniel to consider."

Another blow for Snow. He never even mentioned her. All this, just because of a couple of mild indiscretions with Ruby and Dorothy, who were their 'friends-with-benefits', shared lovers anyway? Seemed like a massive over-reaction, but they'd both agreed it was best to let him get it off his chest, before the healing could begin.

"And as for the infidelity," he turned around to look straight at his wife, his expression stern once again. "Well...it's not as though it hasn't happened before, eh ladies?"

That made Snow sit up. "What…what do you mean by that?"

"You know when I left here, to get away, I called in on Rumpelstiltskin. I may have been angry, but I'm not stupid! Gold owes me from several outstanding deals; for favours I've done for him and Belle. He gave me a scroll to leave town. But he also gave me access to a dreamcatcher…"

"A dreamcatcher?" Ruby repeated. "Why on earth?"

He ignored the question. "Did you know that Gold has locks of hair from most of the adults in town? He's had them since the first curse. I'm not sure how he got them; but he has."

"Hair?" Snow was confused. "David, I'm sorry, I don't understand?"

"It's one of the ways the Dark One gets to know what's happening behind the scenes! He even did some magic while I was there. I spotted it and asked him how it works. He took some strands of your hair, Snow, and some from Ruby's, and knotted them together. He put them in a small vial, brought out the dreamcatcher and carried out some kind of spell. I suppose you could say, I got to see a sort of video, of just the times the two of you were together but speeded up."

Ruby realised the implications of what he was saying. "When you say 'together', you don't mean…"

"Yes, I do mean! I asked him to just filter only on the period after our wedding. And any times the two of you were…intimate. Belle doesn't know about it. The detail was...quite remarkable!"

Snow felt bile rising in her throat. Like she was going to be sick. "Oh, David…"

"Yeah." Now they knew that he knew. Everything!

"Four times, Snow. Four times you were unfaithful, with Ruby, after we married. Four times! At least, that was only up to the time when Regina's curse brought us here. The dreamcatcher didn't go any further, probably because he got a lock of your hair before we left Misthaven."

Snow turned violently, dropping to her knees, hunching, before vomiting violently onto the floor.

Ruby moved quickly behind her, to hold her shoulders, as she emptied the contents of her stomach. Charming would have usually be the one to comfort her, at least hold her hair back. But this time he just watched her throw up, impassively, as Ruby ran into the kitchen to fetch towels and a wet cloth.

By the time she returned, avoiding his stare, and throwing the larger towel over the mess, while using the cloth to wipe Snow's mouth, David had moved back to the window, looking out once again.

Snow finally looked up, bleary-eyed, as she rose, still kneeling, to sit back on her calves. She was speechless.

Her marriage was over!

But David just continued looking out as though nothing had happened. "Four times. Four times my supposed True Love committed adultery. That love, which was strong enough to wake both of us from sleeping curses; strong enough to create a magical saviour, wasn't strong enough to keep you faithful!"

Snow sobbed quietly, taking the remaining cloth to bury her face in. Her shame at her hidden past being so brutally exposed, was total. She desperately wanted to apologise. To beg forgiveness. Wanted to assure him that with Ruby, it was different somehow. That because they'd both once been intimate with her at one time or another, or because they were always close, it was somehow not the same as adultery. Not the same at all. But in her heart, their shared heart, she knew it simply wasn't true.

Ruby was equally shocked, standing beside her, stunned and mouth gaping. She'd betrayed him. David, one of her closest friends. The man who'd saved her life when the villagers came with pitchforks and guns. The man who'd trusted her with his wife. The man who gave her a son, at Snow's request. She'd betrayed him. The rumours about her were justified. She really was the lowest of the low.

But he hadn't finished.

"Has it happened since we all came to Storybrooke? I'd rather you be honest now, as I can always find out later! Gold has his ways, I'm sure."

"No. I swear! The last time was in Misthaven. At the jousting tournament…"

"My birthday party at the castle? Yes Ruby, I know. I saw that for myself. There's me on the jousting field, and you two were carrying on in our marriage bed!" His voice was laden with sarcasm. "Mmm, nice touch, Snow!"

His wife moved back onto the sofa, shielding herself from his words. Drained, she drew her knees to her chest. She deserved everything she was going to get. And now, she waited for her one true love, the man she'd loved like no other person in the world, to tell her he was leaving her. Divorcing her. Ending the longest, strongest marriage there had ever been. And it was all her fault!

But Ruby was still trying to defend her. "It wasn't like that, David! It wasn't-"

"I SAW YOU! I SAW YOU WITH MY OWN EYES! Don't tell me it wasn't sex because that's exactly what it was!" He turned away, moving back to the window to stare into the darkness.

Nothing more was said, for what felt like an eternity. Ruby, now desperately wanting to leave, instead made herself busy by scooping up the towel covering the mess on the floor, before taking it into the kitchen, coming back with more kitchen towel to continue wiping up the remaining vomit, as quickly as she could. All the while, David stood silently, his back to them; and Snow remained hunched on the sofa. Finally, the wolf gathered her keys, heading for the door, head down, before stopping.

"I'm sorry, David. I really am," she managed, before she finally left.

Snow remained silent as she heard Ruby's car fire up outside, waiting for David to turn and finally face her. Before he'd returned, things had felt so different. She knew in her heart that he would calm down eventually and they could talk. But now? Everything had changed completely.

"David?" This time she sounded far more vulnerable. "What are you going to do?"

The question earned a heavy sigh, as her husband's shoulders slumped. "I don't know, Snow, I really don't. But whatever I do, Neal must come first, now. Then Emma."

"But David…we need to discuss this? Please? We really need to-"

"No. We don't! But I need to make some decisions. You cheated on me, even if you refuse to acknowledge it!"

"David, I didn't mean..." But who was she still kidding? She did, didn't she? "I'm sorry."

"Well either way, I'll sleep in one of the spare rooms tonight. I'll see you in the morning…" And with that, David collected his jacket and keys, before turning and walking towards the stairs. "Don't worry, I won't discuss what's going on with the kids. Yet. I'll take care of Neal tomorrow. I need to spend more time with him, anyway. Goodnight."

She'd never cried so much in her entire life as she had over the past week. Yet the moment he left the room, the tears came back yet again.

The present – Saturday evening

Charming walked into the farmhouse just before seven, after leaving the riding school three hours earlier, and having spent most of his afternoon, like yesterday, deep in thought about what he should do about his marriage. He'd walked several miles, stopping off at the forest pub, and winding up spending time with several of Robin Hood's former band of men. It turned out to be a pleasant change from stuck-up former royalty, or people who'd betrayed him.

Feeling guilty at how he'd earlier choked off Emma, when she'd asked questions that were too personal, he remembered Robin's words. And the fact he'd seen him kissing Dorothy Lucas. He wasn't proud of that, nor of the fact that, when she'd pressed him, he told the former Oz hero everything he'd learnt from Rumpelstiltskin's dream catcher. They'd talked. She apologised for her foolish actions three weeks ago and told him she desperately wanted him to remain in her son's life. She also promised that, whatever he decided to do about his relationship with Snow, she would have his back as Nat's father. Somehow, things had moved faster after that. She had kissed him first. Then he kissed her. And before they knew it, the kisses increased dramatically. But somehow, they managed to pull back, to avoid things getting out of hand!

It wasn't right, but he somehow felt justified, considering what their wives had done to his marriage!

"I've made us a casserole. It's chicken. Neal's had something already, and he's up in his room on his laptop talking to one of his friends. Would you like some?" It was rare for Snow to cook these days. More often than not, she just heated something up. David was the one who tended to do most of the real cooking, as he enjoyed it. Though she just desperately wanted to occupy the time, until he would finally start to talk to her. And tell her whether he was leaving her, or whether there was any hope of saving her marriage.

"No thanks," he removed his jacket, putting it on a peg. "I ate at Robin's pub. I'm fine."

He still wouldn't look at her. "Well can I get you something? A glass of wine, perhaps?"

"No, I'm good."

She was crestfallen, seeing he was still not ready. But she had to at least try!

"David, please talk to me?" It felt like yesterday, she thought, as she went to the fridge to get wine for herself. You could have cut it with a knife. "What did you do today?"

Although he said he didn't want wine, he went over to the drinks cabinet, selecting a bottle of single malt and a glass. He poured himself a generous measure before walking back to the table, still not even looking at her. "I took Neal over to Granny's this morning. Though you probably already know that, as Grumpy was there. I know he always keeps you informed where I am, right? I spent some time with Dorothy…"

"Dorothy?" Well that was something! At least he'd had a conversation with one of them, she thought. One of the people who'd hurt him. But then it dawned on her that Ruby's wife wasn't the real villain here. Frankly, he was angrier about their more distant past, before Dorothy's time. "What about?"

"The obvious, of course! You, Ruby. Us..."

"I see…" A horrible realization was dawning. "Did you say anything? Anything about…erm…"

"What I saw in the dreamcatcher?" Now she had his full attention, his pale blue eyes staring back at her, checking her reaction. "Yes. All of it. I thought it best, so she could understand…"

Snow groaned. "Was that really necessary? It was well before she even met Ruby. Long before we came here..."

He shrugged. "Ruby hadn't told her anything, but she asked, so I thought…why not? Might be worthwhile her knowing what sort of person she's got herself married to, after all." He downed the large glass of whisky in two gulps. "I'm going up to see Neal. By the way, I think you should know that Emma's trying to question me as to what's been going on. I haven't told her anything, but…she's kinda put two and two together and figured it out. She's a bright girl like that!" He took the glass over to the sink. "Don't wait up." And with that, he left her, heading out before stopping at the foot of the stairs.

"You know, Dorothy's a really lovely woman, when you get to know her. We had a lovely time together. Goodnight."

Once again, he'd left her with her head swimming. Emma knows? And what did he tell Dorothy? What the hell would she now be saying to Ruby, when she found out about the two of them and what they'd done after she married Charming? Although she'd always tried to convince herself that her past with Ruby wasn't anything more than intimate friendship between friends, not cheating, David's discovery of the truth about the early part of their marriage, and his reaction, made her realise just how blind, stupid and selfish she'd been. He hadn't known - so of course it was cheating! How could it be anything else? Was that why she hinted, after their wedding, that perhaps she and Charming should repeat some of the fun and games they'd had before? It was only when David said he wasn't interested, and his insistence that the scandal of a discovered indiscretion could damage Snow White's legacy for their followers, that she backed off.

But she'd cheated. And on the one person she loved like no other. Her own true love. She was a truly horrible, unfaithful wife, who was now going to get her just desserts, quite possibly alienating her daughter too!

Meanwhile…

Upstairs in the master bedroom of Granny's Diner, the current owners of the business were having a difficult evening of their own…

"Kansas, please? You're being ridiculous!"

"No Ruby, I'm not. I can't share the same bedroom with you right now! I'm too annoyed!"

"Why? For god's sake, Dot, it was years ago, long before I ever met you! And before Storybrooke even existed! Why's it such a problem?"

"It's a problem because I learned that you made a married woman cheat on her husband! Repeatedly. How the hell could you do that? He was supposed to be your friend too!"

"It wasn't like that! This was Snow White and Prince Charming, for hell's sake. We're all close. All three of us! I'd already shared a bed with them, quite a few times I may add, before they got married! In a way, David and I used to be lovers too! It's not the same, Dot, not the same at all!"

"No, it's not the same. They got married! Fidelity, remember? Once they married, you shouldn't have gone anywhere near her! I don't care who started it - what you did was wrong, and you know it!"

"Why do you even care? It's not like it was recent!"

"I care, because I can't believe the woman I've committed to by marriage, is capable of doing something so deceitful! It's got me wondering whether you two have done anything since!"

"No, we haven't, I swear! Why would I? I've got you!"

"Yeah, and Snow had David! Perhaps I should go ask Gold about your own recent history? Or...I could ask Belle…"

"No, Dot, don't go anywhere near that man. He's dangerous! And anyway, you're not completely innocent in all this. You had sex with Snow too. We both did!"

"Yes, but the difference is, I'm still ashamed of myself! It was wrong of me, and I apologized to David yet again this morning. It was a terrible mistake, and I hate the fact it could've cost me my friendship with the man who gave us Nathaniel and got me pregnant. And let's not forget, he only went along with that, because you and Snow pressured him."

"That's not fair! I'm also feeling bad about it. I'm not a completely heartless bitch!"

Dorothy shrugged, clearly not convinced. "Well, whatever happens, I still want David in our children's lives. I'm not letting your hidden secrets screw things up between them. Fortunately, David forgave me this morning and we kissed and made up. The problems now with you two! I'm not going to discuss this anymore. I'm sleeping in a guest room."

Ruby shook her head in disbelief. This was getting more complicated by the day! She needed to call Snow.

Over at the Swan-Jones house…

It was nearly midnight when, with the rest of the family now in bed, Emma sat in the living room, finally closing the biggest story book Henry had lent her. She'd read the most relevant one first. The story of Snow White and the seven dwarves. The true story, not the numerous, other versions. The versions that had so much about her mother, the fairest of them all, but almost nothing about her father. The last time she'd read it, all those years ago, they'd only just got back from the Underworld, and Henry hadn't yet become the Author. And there was only the one book, though countless more, completed, and blank, lined the library of the Sorcerer's Apprentice's house. Whatever happened to them?

But now, in the story of her parents, she found a dozen new pages, including coloured drawings and sketches. Emma herself featured on some of them, but the new pages only focused on major incidents in the lives of its two central characters. The trip to Camelot and meeting King Arthur. Then the Underworld. Charming fighting with, and causing his twin brother's accidental plunge into Acheron, the river of lost souls. Snow White reuniting with Hercules. The splitting of Regina with her Evil Queen half (there was another book just devoted to her life). The vile sleeping curse that the Queen created, keeping Snow and Charming asleep in turns until the town broke it. Having to witness Emma's own death at the hands of an adult Gideon, under the control of Fiona, the Black Fairy. So many small, but significant, tales, and she marvelled at all the detail. Especially the images. The book covering her, and Killian's life would have to wait for another night. But the book focused far more on Snow than Charming, which was surprising. The man whose kiss woke her from a sleeping spell. Who almost died putting his daughter into an enchanted wardrobe to save her. The man who allowed his heart to be ripped out and crushed, all so his own wife could get back to their daughter.

Yet when she reached the last three pages, she was reminded just why she asked Henry for this particular book. But he'd seemed noticeably concerned when she'd asked, and initially told her he wasn't quite sure where it was. It was such a blatant lie that she picked him up on it immediately, and he'd quickly conceded, begging her not to pass it around after she'd read it! He even said if she didn't promise to return it back to him as soon as she'd read it, he'd refuse to let her have it! Cheeky bugger!

Now, as she read the last two pages, she realised why. They told of the close relationship between Red, the young she-wolf, and Snow White, which could easily be read as romantic. Then, years later, it told how the rightful Queen of Misthaven helped her oldest friend to have a child with her true love, by asking her own husband, Prince Charming, to provide the seed. One picture showed a stern old woman refusing to assist Ruby and Dorothy (presumably at the fertility clinic). Another coloured print showed her parents sat around the fireplace, talking about the options.

But as she turned over the final page, Emma never read the last chapter. The one that told about Ruby's successful pregnancy, and birth of her half-brother, Nathaniel Lucas. No, instead her mind was blown away by the full-size colour print opposite! Emma's jaw dropped when she saw the detail. Undoubtedly the reason why Henry didn't want her to read it! There was Ruby Lucas, now lying on a large bed, resting against a bedhead, wearing only what looked like a burgundy silk chemise. On her left lay Dorothy, in a short robe. But to Ruby's right, sat her own father, David! He was bare-chested, wearing only what looked like boxers. And all three of them were looking at another, fourth figure, with a slight, curvy frame, cropped hair, and equally, scantily dressed. And she appeared to be in the process of removing her slip, with a seductive glint in her eye.

"Mum? Holy crap!"