Author's Notes: A special thank you goes out to BizarreBard. She has been helping me by Betaing this story and giving suggestions on where to take things. I'm very appreciative of her help.
Chapter 11: The Shepherd
A small crowd of people are gathered in a room in King Leopold's castle for his birthday. Snow White, a Genie, and the Evil Queen are in attendance. King Leopold goes up to the front of the room to make a speech.
"No gifts are required to mark this special day, for they all pale in comparison to the greatest gift of all – my daughter, Snow." King Leopold says.
Snow White blushes, "Father…" She joins the King at the front of the room as everyone claps. "Father, you make me blush."
"Every day I look upon your face, and I am reminded of your dearly departed mother. Who, like you, truly was the fairest in all the land?" King Leopold says.
Snow White hugs King Leopold and the crowd claps again. She then whispers into her father's ear, "And my sisters?"
King Leopold looks to Snow White and then nods as he whispers back, "Yes even your sisters. May they find happiness wherever they are?"
Dawn sits straight up in bed as realization spreads across her face. "The curse is real."
Next door Regina is on the phone with Sidney, "Did you find anything else out about Ms. Summers, her sister or Ms. Lehane? Such as maybe Ms. Lehane being stabbed?"
"Actually I just did. Ms. Lehane was stabbed and admitted to the Sunnydale Hospital for a stab wound to her stomach. It missed most of the vital organs thankfully. And she was found rather quickly so there was little blood loss. She ended up in a coma for three months. Several weeks after she regained consciousness she confessed to several crimes and spent two years in the Los Angeles County Jail." Sidney said.
"Was there anyone charged with the stabbing. Any witnesses, anything?" Regina asks.
"I'm afraid not. The case remained unsolved till Sunnydale disappeared literally from the face of the earth in, at the time, an undiscovered sinkhole." Sidney said.
"Was there any information on her parents? Say before the age of six?" Regina asks.
"No there is nothing. It seems she had amnesia and couldn't remember anything before she was six years old." Sidney said. "According to records no one came to claim her. So they put her into the system and adopted her out to the Lehane family."
"Thank you. If you find anything else." Regina says.
"You'll be the first to know." Sidney said.
Regina hung up the phone and looked to the painting on the wall of her daughters, "Faith, my little angel. What happened? Why did your sister stab you?"
The next day most of the people of Storybrooke are at David's coming home party. Over by the stairs, Emma, Buffy, Dawn and Henry are talking.
"You know why he doesn't remember? The curse isn't working on him yet." Henry says.
"Henry, David has amnesia." Emma says.
"Well, it's preventing the curse from replacing his fairy tale story with fake memories." Henry said.
Buffy looked to Dawn and sighed, "He's right. We have experience with biology not working exactly right with magic." She remembered when they had found out that it had been possible the monks spell may have caused Joyce's tumor.
"Right. Because everyone here has fake stories that prevent them from remembering who they really are." Emma says.
"Right. And now's our chance to help him. We just have to get him to remember that he's-" Henry says.
Emma sighs, "He's Prince Charming."
Buffy shakes her head as she remembers the dream of Charming waking Snow White in her coffin. "He is, Emma. I know you don't quite yet believe what Henry has told you. In fact I know you don't believe what I told you, and that you've just been humoring me and Faith. But believe me when I say it's all true."
"Anyways we just have to jog his memory by getting him and Miss Blanchard together." Henry says.
"Didn't we just try that?" Emma asks.
Dawn nods, "And it woke him up."
David joins Buffy, Dawn, Emma and Henry. "Hey. You're the ones who saved me, right?"
Buffy nods, "That's right."
"And, uh, you're also the only ones I know here." David says.
"You can hide with us." Emma says.
David smiles, "Fantastic."
A man serves David an appetizer. David stabs a cocktail weenie with a toothpick. "Oh, thank you."
"So, you ever use a sword?" Henry asks.
"I'm sorry? Emma, you live with Mary Margaret, right? You know if she's coming tonight?" David asked.
Emma shakes her head, "No, she couldn't make it."
"Oh." David said.
Later after David has left Kathryn approaches Buffy, Dawn, Emma, Henry and Dr. Whale.
"Have you seen David?" Kathryn asks.
"Um, he…" Emma says.
Dr. Whale shakes his head, "No."
Outside Mary Margaret's house she is trying to hang a bird feeder in a tree. David calls to her from the sidewalk. "Did you not get the invite?"
"David." Mary Margaret says.
David jumps over the fence and hangs the bird feeder for her. "So, I heard you resigned from the hospital. Was it me? Cause of what I told you, about how I felt about you… Oh, come on – don't tell me it's one sided."
"You're married. It should be no side." Mary Margaret says.
"Should be doesn't matter. Whoever married Kathryn, it's not me. I didn't choose her. I'm choosing you. I know you feel it – I can tell." David says.
Mary Margaret nods, "I know you think that we have this connection, but maybe it's because I happen to be the person who saved your life? So, why don't we leave it at that." She turns and leaves.
Later Mary Margaret is scrubbing at a dish in her kitchen as Emma enters.
"You might want to ease up, or that brillo pad's going to press charges." Emma says.
"Dishes were just piling up…" Mary Margaret says.
"This have anything to do with David stopping by? I saw him sulking away as I pulled up." Emma says.
Mary Margaret sighs, "We just, uh… He just…"
"Yeah, I know. You're both just. And you did the right thing." Emma says.
"He made a pretty compelling case." Mary Margaret says.
Emma shakes her head, "But he's still married. I know – I was just at the party."
"What do I do?" Mary Margaret asks.
"You need to stop cleaning. And have a drink." Emma says as she grabs a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. She pours them both a drink. "Here's the thing – I don't know a lot about relationships, other than having many that failed. But generally speaking, if you think something you want to do is wrong, it is. So, you got to stay strong and he has to figure out his life. Cheers."
They clink glasses.
Later Mary Margaret is reading the paper at Granny's Diner. The front page article is about David.
Dr. Whale walks up to her. "I'm a hell of a doctor, huh? No way he wakes up on someone else's watch."
"Hello, Dr. Whale." Mary Margaret says.
"So, I heard that you resigned from the hospital. I hope it wasn't because of me." Dr. Whale says.
Mary Margaret shakes her head, "Wh-why would it be because of you?"
Dr. Whale shrugs, "Well, our date… I never called you after. Yeah, I know, I know. It's not classy. And I'm sorry. But, if you could find a way to get over it, you know where to find me. Have a good day." He turns and leaves the diner. As he's walking out, Regina walks in.
"Miss Blanchard, may I have a word?" Regina asks.
Mary Margaret nods, "Of course."
"I wanted to talk to you about my friend Kathryn. But more specifically, I wanted to talk to you about her husband David. You don't belong together. He's not yours, he's taken, find somebody else." Regina says.
"I haven't done anything." Mary Margaret says.
"Really? So he just up and left his wife on a whim?" Regina says.
Mary Margaret looks at Regina with shock, "He did what?"
"You don't know." Regina says and Mary Margaret shakes her head. "Well, I suspect you soon will. So listen carefully, dear, cause it's in your best interest. Stay away. He's in a fragile state, he doesn't know who he is or what he's doing, and you're this close to wrecking multiple lives. So, before you do something that can't be undone, let him remember who he was." She turns and leaves Mary Margaret alone in the diner.
Later Mary Margaret is opening letters with a letter opener in her classroom.
David stands at the door. "Careful – looks sharp."
"You can't be here." Mary Margaret says.
David nods, "I… I needed to see you."
"Tell me you didn't leave your wife because of me? I do not want to destroy your marriage." Mary Margaret says.
"You're not. It's me. I don't want to hurt her either, but the most hurtful thing to Kathryn would be me pretending. She needs someone to feel about her the way I feel about you." David says.
"I'm really trying hard to stay away from you. To do the right thing." Mary Margaret says.
David sighs, "Why is that the right thing?"
"Because you already have a life." Mary Margaret says.
The bell rings and kids, and Dawn, start to file into the classroom.
Dawn moves over to her chair beside Mary Margaret's desk. "Hello, David."
"With someone I didn't choose." David says. "The man who chose that life, whoever married Kathryn, is gone." He looks to Dawn briefly, "Hello, Dawn."
"You really have to leave me alone." Mary Margaret says as she starts to push David out of the classroom.
"Is that truly what you want?" David asks.
"Go." Mary Margaret says.
"Meet me tonight. At least think about it. I'll be at the bridge where you found me at 8:00. Think about it until then and then decide. If you don't show, I'll know. And I'll never bother you again. But if you choose this – if you choose us – you know where I'll be." David says before leaving.
Mary Margaret looks to Dawn, "Can I get a ride I need to talk to someone tonight."
"Sure," Dawn says.
That afternoon after school is over, Dawn takes Mary Margaret back to the Summers/Lehane mansion.
"Why did you bring me here?" Mary Margaret asks.
"You said you needed to talk to someone. Buffy is a good listener. She's helped me out of situations like this before." Dawn says.
"I was thinking Emma, but alright." Mary Margaret says as Dawn leads her inside.
"Buffy." Dawn says. "I'm home."
"In here, Dawn." Buffy says as Dawn leads Mary Margaret into the living room. "Hello Mary Margaret."
"She said she needed someone to talk to. I thought you might be the best person for the job."
Buffy looks to her little sister and nods. She then looks to Mary Margaret. 'Are you in there Snow?' Buffy thinks before saying out loud, "Of course what can I help you with?"
"David left his wife. He left Kathryn." Mary Margaret says. "He did it for me. He wants me to be with him. He wants me to meet him tonight."
Buffy looks at Dawn before looking back at Mary Margaret, "Mary Margaret…"
"I mean, I'm trying so hard to be strong, but he just keeps coming. I mean, how do I stop it? You know, how do I let him down? What would you do?" Mary Margaret says.
"I'd go." Buffy says.
"What?" Mary Margaret says.
"Well he left her. It's one thing to say that he wants you, but it's another to actually make a choice and now, he has. That's all you can ask for." Buffy says.
"Given her new friendship with Kathryn, I don't think Regina would be happy." Mary Margaret says.
"Despite that she is our neighbor. I say all the more reason to do it." Buffy says.
"Good Lord, is this really happening?" Mary Margaret says.
"You tell me." Buffy says.
Later that evening Mary Margaret is waiting at the Toll Bridge. She is fiddling with the ring that Prince Charming's mother gave to him.
David runs up behind her. "You came."
"You sound surprised. In fact, you almost sound a bit disappointed." Mary Margaret says.
"I remember." David says.
"Kathryn?" Mary Margaret asks.
David nods. "Everything."
"And you love her." Mary Margaret says.
"I don't know. But I know I did. I remember how I felt and I think I have to honor that." David says.
Mary Margaret sighs, "And everything that you said to me-"
"Is true. I do have feelings for you – intense feelings. Feelings I don't quite understand." David says.
"And you're going back to her." Mary Margaret says.
David nods, "It's the right thing to do."
"The right thing to do, was not to lead me on." Mary Margaret says.
David sighs, "I know."
"So, you've made your choice." Mary Margaret says.
David nods, "I'm sorry-"
"That's okay. I guess it just wasn't meant to be." Mary Margaret says as she walks off and leaves David alone.
Later Mary Margaret is sitting alone in Granny's Diner. She is, again, fiddling with her ring.
Dr. Whale enters the diner and sits down next to her. "Rough day?"
"Don't feel like talking." Mary Margaret says.
"Come on. Sometimes, it's easier to talk to someone when you don't give a crap what they think." Dr. Whale says.
Mary Margaret sighs, "You ever walk into a situation, where you know exactly what's going to happen and then you go into it anyway. And then, when what you're afraid of happens, you kick yourself. Because you should've known better. But that's just who you are. It's like you're punishing yourself."
Dr. Whale shakes his head, "No."
"How do you do that?" Mary Margaret asks.
"By never knowing what's expected – keeps life interesting. Can I buy you a drink?" Dr. Whale says.
"You can buy me two." Mary Margaret says.
Across the diner from Mary Margaret and Dr. Whale sits Dawn and Buffy.
Dawn lets out a sigh, "Our poor sister."
Buffy nods, "Yeah. But once we and Emma break the curse, Charming will come back to her."
"Do you wish you could just go over there and tell her?" Dawn asks.
"That's she is Snow and we're her sisters?" Buffy asks and Dawn nods. "Yes. But she won't believe us. Not without proof. And I'm afraid that proof won't come till the curse is broken. It's why Emma didn't believe about the Slayer. How can she believe when she doesn't believe in magic?"