So, I was always a fan of the original Punky Brewster and then watched the reboot, which gave me this idea. Snowing are divorced, for now, but if you know me...they won't stay that way. The main themes of this fic are family and healing.
Mary Margaret submerges beneath the bubbles, letting out a deep breath. Soft lavender wavers in the air. She had to wake up a little early, but she's nestled into her deep tub. A few vanilla candles sit close by, bringing some warmth to the otherwise cold bathroom. She could do this at night, but by then she's exhausted.
As Spotify skips to the next melodic ballad, Mary Margaret shuts her eyes. She still has some time until she needs to be at work, maybe she could sleep in the tub. If only for a few moments…
"Mom! Where's my bookbag?"
Her eyes pop open and a slight groan escapes her lips. Her boys are 10 and 16. They can handle themselves for one morning. Neal will find his bookbag. A soaked hand fumbles out of the tub to turn up the volume on her water-proof speaker.
"Have you seen my English essay?"
Mary Margaret shakes her head, even though August can't see her. If he'd just look a little harder…
"I don't have any socks!"
She silences her speaker. "So much for that."
Mary Margaret reaches beneath her and pulls the plug to the tub. Reluctantly, she climbs out and begins to dry off her body.
"Alexa," she calls out to the orb in her bedroom. "Text Neal that clean socks are in the dryer."
Mary Margaret finishes up and goes about getting dressed, despite the hysteria outside of her room. She can hear Neal rifling through the machine and August slamming the drawers to his desk. After sliding into some black slacks and a soft pink blouse, finger combing her damp pixie cut, Mary Margaret makes her way out into the hall, bumping into her youngest son.
"Found my socks," Neal says, holding up a pair of gray argyles. He's already in his uniform, hair combed.
Mary Margaret smiles. "I'm glad. And your backpack?"
"August hid it!"
"I did not!" August yells from his room down the hall.
"Did so!"
She places a hand on Neal's shoulder. "Check the entry way, second cubby."
"I already…"
"Just check."
With a resigned sigh, Neal stomps down the stairs. Mary Margaret walks over to her oldest son's room, leaning in the doorway. It's a whirlwind of structured chaos. Books piled on the floor by genre. Three bookshelves already overflowing with a system she doesn't quite understand. Funko pops clutter the top hutch of his desk. August's bed is still unmade, with piles of laundry littered across the floor. He doesn't even seem to mind as he rifles through his backpack. Like Neal, he's also in his uniform, though missing the tie.
"The printer, Auggie."
August's head snaps up, a few loose strands of curls falling onto his forehead. "Are you…"
"I heard it going off around midnight."
He averts his gaze. "Sorry, I just couldn't sleep and then I realized I should change my second paragraph, soon none of it made sense and…"
Mary Margaret gently touches his chin. "Hey, I understand. It's just also important that you get eight hours. I know your writing is important to you…"
"The muse might not be there by morning, Ma."
She shakes her head, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "I'm going to kill your uncle for teaching you those excuses. Now, come on. Get your stuff together or we're going to be late." She starts to exit, him hot on her tail. "And don't forget your tie. I don't think you realizes how bad it looks that my own son breaks dress code every single day."
"Hey, you know my debate this weekend is about abolishing the dress code?"
"And I hope you win, sweetie."
The thrilled look on her teen's face is enough to get Mary Margaret to match it. Once down stairs, she starts gathering her own things together. Her classes are all taking a test today and she hopes it takes the whole period so she can catch up on the grading she's fallen behind on. After throwing a few books into her bag, the sudden scent of leather and aftershave catches her off guard.
Mary Margaret's known David 20 years. In time, he's only gotten more handsome. He now allows his dark blonde hair to grow a bit, along with his facial hair. Those sparkling blue eyes don't light up his face nearly as much as his smile. His wardrobe is the one thing that's fluctuated over the years. When they first met, he wore ripped jerseys and concert t's paired with rough jeans. After law school, he was never found in anything but khakis, turtlenecks or suits. Pushing 40, he's settled into the habit of flannel with jeans making a comeback. Ever since he gave up practicing law to open a home renovation business, he's gone for a lumberjack look. His muscles show off beneath a green flannel with the sleeves rolled up a bit.
Her smile grows a little bigger, even if she wishes it wouldn't. "What are you doing here?"
"I figured you would be frazzled. The boys don't need to be at school for another hour, I'll take them to breakfast so you can head in and get set up." He pauses, a bit of hesitancy cropping up on his face. "Unless that's not okay or you want to come…"
"David," her smile doesn't waver. "It's fine. They're your boys too."
That charming smile takes over his face once more. "I just don't want to intrude on your time."
"Intrude? You're doing me a huge favor. I thought I had time for a bubble bath this morning but…" She consults the iron clock on the kitchen wall. "I guess I didn't. I have to meet with some students for test prep, they couldn't come in the afternoons."
"You're good with them."
"It's my job."
"I don't know, I never had a teacher that tried as much as you."
Her stomach warms at the compliment and she just as easily curses herself. It's been two years since the divorce and they've done all they can to keep it happy. Weekly family dinners, holidays spent together so no one has to miss out. It's friendlier than their respective parents' divorces. Mary Margaret knows it still hurt the boys, but they've adjusted well. Their entire family has. It's like nothing has changed.
Except now, David lives in an apartment downtown, her boys don't live with her two weeks out of the month and she's divorced from her college sweetheart.
Shaking her head, Mary Margaret throws some Pyrex filled with chicken and veggies into one of her many tote bags. David falls into routine of grabbing the boys' lunchboxes and passing them off once they hurry into the room.
"How about we hit up Granny's for some breakfast?" David suggests to the boys. "I think French Toast is calling my name."
"Can we get hot chocolate?" Neal asks, his eyes flashing to Mary Margaret.
"Yes, one cup. Not too much syrup, Jasmine will have my ass if you're hyper."
"Swear jar, Ma," August pipes up from behind the apple he's already devouring.
"Put it on my tab." She kisses each of the boys on the top of their head, nearly going for David. With a swift recovery, she plants a second to August and ignores the face he makes. "I love you, see you later. Have an amazing day, make good choices, I'll see you after debate practice," she points to August. "And swim," her finger lands on Neal. "And do you…"
"I have my gear." He shrugs up his bag. "We've got this, Mom."
She lets out a small sigh. They do. Despite the hectic few minutes, they are becoming more independent by the day. Soon, she's going to have two teenage boys.
Mary Margaret has to rush out the door before she gives that too much thought.
Nonchalantly taking a few bites of her cold chicken and avocado, Mary Margaret looks over the tests from her first four periods. The results are to be expected. The kids who at least put in some effort, will receive a high C. Those who only showed up at the last minute to study or didn't at all, Mary Margaret is sure she'll be hearing from those parents this weekend. There are days she misses public schools with parents who didn't have the time to bother her about these things. At the same time, she knows that Hyperion Academy offers the best for not just her sons, but any child that comes through her home. They'll only get the free tuition so long as she works there.
Taking a sip of her seltzer, Mary Margaret scans her desk. A few photos of her boys from over the years are crowded with ones of the other children. They're ones she'll always consider hers in some way. She and David originally only set out to foster children who's time in the system were temporary. Just a stop on their way back to their families or another home all together. The first 10 years, they followed that goal. Along the way, Neal-their only biological child-was born. And when he was 4, they got a call about a 10-year-old who needed a weekend stay.
That weekend turned into a few weeks. From there, it was 6 months. By the time August had been in their home for a year, the plan had changed. He needed an adoptive family. It was an easy yes, from all parties.
They fostered after that, until the incident. And after the divorce was final, Mary Margaret decided to go into alone. Just respite care, here and there. The spare room is still set up and the boys are always amazing about whoever comes into their home, no matter how short.
"Working through lunch?" She looks up at the sound of her sister's voice. "And I thought you yelled at me for that."
Mary Margaret rolls her eyes and points to the chair she has set up in front of her desk. "Because at least I'm eating, Regina. You never do."
Regina smirks, plopping down. "I scarf down a salad. Better than…" She wrinkles her nose. "God, did you make that?"
"I'm trying, okay! David took the cooking skills in the divorce." Regina mutters something under her breath and Mary Margaret cocks an eyebrow. "What was that?"
"How is Prince Charming?"
"That's not what you said."
"It's what I'm asking now."
Mary Margaret shrugs. "He's David. Happy, funny, always willing to help with the boys."
"As he should, they're his."
"Did you come here to bash my ex-husband or did you have a purpose?"
"Can't I have a reason to come see my sister?"
Mary Margaret licks her lips, trying to suppress a smile. There was a time when Regina wouldn't consider her an acquaintance, much less related. Leo married Cora when Mary Margaret was 14 and Regina, 16. The two fought like cats and dogs for years. And then Eva was hospitalized when Mary Margaret was a junior in college. Regina showed up with food and refused to leave. From there, it was a subtle shift. Even after their parents divorced, they remained close. It didn't hurt that Regina was a social worker for Mary Margaret and David's agency. Normally, she couldn't get involved but there were a few times she'd recommend a placement their way.
"No, but you usually have one. Are the kids okay? I haven't heard anything from their teachers in a bit."
"They're great." Regina softly smiles. "I think Margot is actually adjusting to us."
"I told you, it just takes time."
"I should've known it myself, given my work with kids like her. It just isn't easy when you're actually in the position."
Mary Margaret nods. "I know." She's had many placements struggle to trust, some still didn't by the time they moved on. She can't imagine adopting an estranged sibling's child. "And I'm happy things are getting better for you guys. Especially for Henry and Roland, I know how excited they were for her to come."
"It's all about adjustment. I guess I was just used to how things worked with you guys. Neal and August have always been great."
"To be fair, it's all Neal knows. And by the time August came to us, he had been in the system for a bit."
"Still, they're so amazing with every placement. Welcoming, kind…"
"Stop stalling and tell me who they are."
Regina's sly smirk returns. "How do you know I have a child that needs a placement?"
"You're complimenting my boys. So, spill."
Regina sighs and places her black purse onto the desk. "Her name is Emma. 7 years old, been in the system a couple of years."
Mary Margaret pushes the Pyrex and paperwork out of the way. "What's her plan?"
"Currently, adoption. Which, I know you don't want to do. I think I can find her another family but, in the meantime, she keeps running away from the group home. I really don't want to have to send her to another or put her somewhere that I know isn't going to take her issues seriously." Regina gnaws on her lower lip. "We talk about August. He was a flight risk early on. And you took in those kids awaiting juvie trial."
"And yet you sound like you think I'd say no."
"I just know how busy you are. I don't know how soon I'll be able to find her a different home. It's not going to be a week or two like you've been getting recently. Could be a few months, potentially longer. I just know how sensitive it is…"
"Regina," Mary Margaret interrupts. "I know what I can handle."
"I'm just making sure. If you say no, I can make other arrangements…"
"I'm not saying no. I need to talk about it with Neal and Auggie, but I'd love to meet her. Get to know her."
She shakes her head, trying not to think of all of the opportunities she's given up over the past few years. How many kids could've thrived in her home, if only she was open to letting them all in.
"You said her name was Emma?" Mary Margaret asks.
"Emma Swan. She's stubborn, incredibly so. Will probably try to convince you the sky is purple."
"Well," she shrugs. "Sometimes it actually is."