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.

On Faith yes I know she has been a minor character for most of the story when she should have been a major character. I've just had problems with finding a place for her in the individual chapters, that's why they have been Buffy and Dawn centric. I'm going to try and make up for it in chapter 22 on (that's the first chapter that has yet to be written.)

Chapter 18: 7:15 A.M.

Buffy and Faith are eating breakfast as Dawn scrambles to get ready. A television airing the weather is on in the background.

"I can't believe I overslept." Dawn says.

"It's only seven ten." Buffy says. "You've got plenty of time to get to school."

"No, I have to be there at seven fifteen – science fair." Dawn says. "Mary Margaret and I are helping the kids with their project before school."

"I'm sure if you're five minutes late they'll live." Faith says.

"We're making a volcano." Dawn says and she leaves.

Buffy shakes her head, "Okay."

Dawn and Mary Margaret arrive at Granny's Diner.

Dawn smiles, "Good luck. If you need anything remember I'll be on the other side of the diner."

"Thanks, Dawn." Mary Margaret says as she sits at one of the tables, takes out a book, and fixes her hair in a spoon's reflection. At seven fifteen, David enters the diner and walks up to the counter.

Ruby serves David two coffees, "One cream and sugar, one black."

"Thank you." David says as he takes the coffees and notices Mary Margaret sitting behind him.

"Good morning." David says.

"Morning!" Mary Margaret says.

"I-I… I should go. I'm going to be late for work." David says.

"Oh, the animal shelter, right? How's that going?" Mary Margaret says.

"Well, the apes haven't taken over." David says.

Mary Margaret smiles, "Yet."

David shakes his head, "Not on my watch." He leaves as Dawn walks over. She sees him meet Kathryn at their car, where he gives her the coffee and a kiss on the cheek.

Buffy and Emma comes out of the back room.

"This is making a volcano?" Emma asks.

Buffy shakes her head, "Dawn you didn't have to lie you know."

"I was-"

"I get it." Emma says.

"Buffy, Mary Margaret is my friend. I'm not going to be there to support her in any way I can."

"I know, Dawnie. I'm not mad." Buffy says.

"He comes here every morning at seven fifteen a.m. to get coffee." Mary Margaret says.

"For him and his wife." Emma says.

"I know, I know, I know. I just like to…come here to see him." Mary Margaret says.

"So you're a stalker?" Buffy asks. "And you're helping her Dawn?"

Mary Margaret shakes her head, "No, not really… Maybe a little bit. I mean, it's not like I'm following him. I just know that he spends his mornings with Kathryn, gets coffee, then drives to the animal shelter to start work at seven thirty and then he's home around five."

Dawn smiles and leans in to whisper to Buffy so Emma and Mary Margaret don't here, "We both know this is Snow. And David is Charming. Which means they are supposed to be together."

"Oh, is that all?" Emma asks.

Buffy nods and whispers back to Dawn, "I know. But I can't say that out loud now can I?"

"Thursdays they pick up Chinese for dinner. I can't get him out of my head." Mary Margaret says.

Emma nods, "I know. Maybe the first step is not showing up here tomorrow."

"Love's the worst. I wish there was a magic cure." Mary Margaret says.

Later Dawn is shopping with Mary Margaret, when they bump into Kathryn. Regina is also in the same aisle.

"I'm so sorry!" Mary Margaret says.

Kathryn shakes her head, "It's fine. Don't worry about it."

"I wasn't looking." Mary Margaret says.

Regina nods, "Clearly."

"What's your deal Madam Mayor? Do you have it out for everyone in this town? Or is it just the people Buffy, Emma and I are friends with?" Dawn says.

"Oh, is this yours?" Kathryn asks as she hands Mary Margaret a chocolate bar.

"Um, yes, thank you. Um, this must…" Mary Margaret says as she picks up a pregnancy test. She hands it to Kathryn. "Good luck."

"Thank you." Kathryn says as she walks away, leaving Regina, Dawn and Mary Margaret alone.

"I trust you two will be discrete? Their lives are their business – not yours." Regina says.

"Of course," Dawn says.

Later Dawn and Mary Margaret are walking along a gravel road through the forest. They hear a cooing noise coming from the slope on the edge of the road.

Mary Margaret slides down the incline and finds a dove trapped in some plastic netting. "Oh, hey. How did you manage to get yourself… Come on – it's going to be okay." She frees the dove and takes it with her as Dawn reaches down to help Mary Margaret back up the slope.

At the animal shelter, Dawn and Mary Margaret are talking to the vet. David is standing off to the side.

"Well, the good news is, no broken bones. She was just a little dehydrated, but I got her some fluids and she should be just fine." Vet says.

"And the bad news?" Mary Margaret asks.

"Well, this is a north Atlantic dove. It's a migratory species. Very unique among American doves. They tend to form strong, monogamous bonds, meaning-" Vet says.

"If we don't get her back to her flock, she'll be alone forever." Dawn says.

The Vet nods, "Well, it's a long shot, but the alternative…" He puts the dove into a cage. "She'll heal, but she won't be happy here."

"We'll take our chances. Thank you, Doctor." Mary Margaret says.

Vet nods, "You're welcome. Good luck." He turns and leaves.

Mary Margaret takes the dove's cage and she and Dawn goes to leave.

"Mary Margaret… Dawn, there's a storm coming. You two really shouldn't go out there." David says.

"Well, the storm's coming tomorrow. If we wait, she could be lost forever. Completely alone. No one deserves that." Dawn says as she looks to Mary Margaret.

"Then let me drive you two." David says.

Mary Margaret shakes her head, "We don't need your help, David. We'll be fine."

Across town Buffy and Emma are loading storm supplies into the trunk of their squad cars as Regina walks up to them.

"If you're looking to blame us for the storm, I think you're taking things a bit far now." Emma says.

Regina shakes her head, "I need you two to look into something, Sheriff. Someone's in town – someone new."

"Yeah, I know. I gave him directions to Granny's the other night." Emma said.

Regina frowns, "You talked to him? What'd he say?"

"He asked for directions. What's the big deal? Who is he?" Emma asks.

Regina shrugs, "I don't know. I asked around, but no one seems to know anything. There's something about him. Something familiar."

"He must be one of the untold millions you cursed." Emma said.

"What?" Regina asks.

"Oh, you know. The curse. Henry's whole thing." Emma says.

Regina shakes her head, "Sheriff, I need you and Deputy Summers to find out who he is, what he wants and what he's doing here."

"You know, as hard as you tried to find one in mine or Buffy's cases, there is no law against visiting Storybrooke." Emma says.

"This isn't about the law, Miss Swan. You and Deputy Summers are going to do this because I asked you to. And because you'll see it's the right thing to do." Regina said.

"And why is that?" Buffy asks.

"Because he was in front of our houses, Miss Summers. And he was taking a particular interest in the one thing Miss Swan and I both care about – Henry." Regina said.

"I care about my nephew," Buffy muttered to herself.

Regina looked to Buffy. It was almost too low for her to hear but hear she did. Regina was certain that Buffy knew Henry was Snow White's grandchild.

"We'll look into him." Emma says.

Dawn and Mary Margaret are driving along the same gravel road where they found the dove. They have the dove in its cage on the seat between them. Thunder can be heard in the distance. Up ahead they see a 'Road Closed' sign.

"Well, the flock can't be much farther. We just have to beat the storm. They're waiting for you." Mary Margaret says.

Dawn takes the dove's cage and gets out of the car with Mary Margaret. They set out on foot along the road. The storm can still be heard in the distance.

"Do you hear that? Your flock!" Mary Margaret says as she looks over the edge of the road.

Dawn puts down the dove's cage as Mary Margaret goes closer to the slope. Thunder clashes and Mary Margaret ends up falling down the incline and over the side of a cliff.

"Mary Margaret!" Dawn says.

Mary Margaret grabs onto a branch and dangles over the river below. She attempts to crawl up, but ends up falling farther down.

David comes running up to Dawn as she kneels down to reach out to Mary Margaret.

"Mary Margaret, here." Dawn says as she holds out her hand.

David kneels down next to Dawn and holds out his hand also, "Here!"

"David!" Mary Margaret says.

"Grab our hands!" David says as Mary Margaret grabs David and Dawn's hands. "Hold tight! Come on." He and Dawn pull Mary Margaret to safety. "You'd really think I'd let you two come out here alone? You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine, thanks." Mary Margaret says as she walks up the incline and back towards where Dawn left the dove. Dawn and David follows her.

"Where are you going?" David asks.

"Dawn and I came to find the flock." Mary Margaret says.

David shakes his head, "And I came here to get you both before you got hurt. We have to go."

A torrential rainfall starts as they find the dove's cage.

"No." Mary Margaret says.

"Mary Margaret he has a point. Doing this on foot in the middle of a rain storm is not the best plan."

"The gate was closed." Mary Margaret says. "Or did you forget that Dawn?"

Dawn sighs, "I didn't forget. We have to go."

"No! But the fl-" Mary Margaret says.

David shakes his head, "Mary Margaret, it's not safe. We need to get out of here. Come on!"

Mary Margaret agrees and the three of them run to find shelter.

"There!" David says as he points to a cabin in the woods. "Come on!"

They run to the front door and look in the window.

"Hello? Hello, is anyone in there? It's empty." Mary Margaret says.

David kicks in the door and the three of them rush into the cabin. He gets a fire going in the fireplace. "Okay, let's get you two dry."

"Whose cabin is this? Are you sure it's okay for us to be in here?" Mary Margaret says.

"Well, you're roommates with the Sheriff and Dawn here is the Deputy's sister, so I doubt they'll arrest us for breaking and entering. Here." David says as he puts a blanket over Mary Margaret's shoulders, but she shrugs it off.

"Hey, I'm just… I'm just trying to help. What's going on with you today?" David says.

Dawn picks up the blanket and puts it back on Mary Margaret's shoulders. She then goes to find one of her own.

"What's going on? 'What's going on' is I still have feelings for you." Mary Margaret says.

"What?" David asks.

"Why do you think I go to Granny's every morning at seven fifteen? It's to see you. I don't even know why, because it just makes me miserable. Because every time I see you, it just reminds me that you chose Kathryn instead of me. And that's why I didn't want you to come to the woods with me. Because being around you is too… It's too painful." Mary Margaret says as David laughs. "You think this is funny."

David shakes his head, "No. No, it's just… The reason I go to Granny's every morning at seven fifteen is to see you."

David and Mary Margaret slowly lean in for a kiss as Dawn walks back with a blanket draped around her shoulders. "Oops maybe this wasn't the best time."

Mary Margaret pulls back, neither she nor David have noticed Dawn has returned. "How can you do this?"

"What are you talking about?" David asks.

"David, I know." Mary Margaret says.

"Mary Margaret, no. It's none of our business. He should hear about it from his wife." Dawn said.

"What is it you two know? David asks.

Mary Margaret sighs, "About Kathryn."

"What about Kathryn?" David asks.

"Mary Margaret…" Dawn says.

"That she thinks she's pregnant." Mary Margaret says.

David looks at Mary Margaret and then Dawn in shock, "What?"

Buffy and Emma walks into Granny's Diner to get out of the storm. They see the Stranger Regina mentioned sitting at one of the booths by himself, with the box from the back of his motorcycle sitting under the table.

"We need to talk." Emma says as they walk over to the man.

"Why?" He asks.

"Because you're suspicious." Emma says.

"Sitting here, out in the open, drinking coffee. I wonder what kind of hell I would've raised had I ordered a donut." He says.

Emma shakes her head, "You were talking to Henry."

"You mean the little kid who came up to me asking me questions? Is that unusual for him? Being curious and precocious?" He asks.

Buffy frowns, "What were you doing outside his house?"

"My bike broke down. It happens." He said.

"Your mysterious box – what's in it?" Emma asks.

"It's awfully frustrating not knowing, isn't it?" He says.

Buffy frowns, "Just tell us."

"Why? Is it illegal to carry around a box in these parts?" He asks.

Emma shakes her head, "No, of course it's not."

"You two really want to know what's inside it, don't you?" He asks.

Emma looks to Buffy who shrugs, "No. Well, maybe."

"I'm going to make you two wait. You're going to have to wait a long time and watch me carry it around. Hauling it to strange and mysterious places. And with each passing moment, the mystery will become more tantalizing. Your imaginations will inflame, but so will your frustration. Never knowing – only guessing – what could possibly be inside that box? Or, either of you could let me buy you a drink sometime and I'll tell you right now."

"You want to buy us a drink?" Buffy asks.

"Yes." He says.

"Okay. A drink it is." Emma says.

"Sure why not." Buffy says.

He takes the box from underneath the booth and puts it on the table. He unlocks it and opens it up, revealing a typewriter.

"Really?" Emma asks.

"I'm a writer." He says.

"That's why you're here?" Buffy asks.

"I find this place provides…inspiration. Don't you?" He says and closes the box and locks it back up. He gets up from the booth.

"Wait. Have you been here before?" Emma asks.

He shakes his head, "I didn't say that." He goes to leave.

"What about that drink?" Emma asks.

He smiles, "I said sometime."

Dawn, Mary Margaret and David are still at the cabin.

"You didn't know." Mary Margaret says.

David shakes his head, "No."

"This is why it was none of our business." Dawn says.

"And you two aren't trying?" Mary Margaret asks.

David shakes his head, "Not as far as I know. Mary Margaret, you have to believe me. I-"

The sound of birds chirping can be heard outside.

"Shh. The rain stopped. We need to get her out." Mary Margaret says.

"No, Mary Margaret-" David says.

Mary Margaret picks up the dove's cage and goes out the door. Dawn and David follows her.

"Mary Margaret, please. Can we at least talk-"

"Shh. Listen." Mary Margaret says.

Dawn nods, "I hear it."

A cooing noise is heard in the forest. They look up and see several doves flying above them.

"The flock – it didn't leave!" Mary Margaret says.

David nods, "They must've been waiting for the storm to clear."

Mary Margaret sets the dove's cage on the ground and lifts the dove out. "Okay. Okay, girl. Time to join your friends. You can do it." She releases the dove and it flies off to join its flock.

David reaches for Mary Margaret's hand.

"No, David. It's too painful." Mary Margaret says.

"Uh I think I'll go wait over there." Dawn says as she points back at the cabin. She turns and leaves them alone.

"It doesn't have to be. We don't know if Kathryn's pregnant." David says.

"It doesn't matter. You chose her." Mary Margaret says.

David nods, "I know, but I still have feelings for you."

"You can't have both." Mary Margaret says.

"But I do have both. I know… I know it doesn't make sense, but it's like I have these two conflicting lives. Memories of feelings for her and real feelings for you." David says.

"Who's to say which is real?" Mary Margaret asks.

David sighs, "I can't get you out of my head."

"I know, me too. But we're going to have to. We're just going to have to forget each other." Mary Margaret says.

Buffy, Dawn and Faith are sitting at the kitchen table at the Summers/Lehane mansion the next morning. Dawn looks at the clock and notices it reads 7:15.

"You want to go be there for here?" Buffy asks.

Dawn shakes her head, "She said she wasn't going."

Buffy nods, "Well I think I will go over to the diner anyways. Faith how about you?"

Faith nods, "Sure why not. I could use some time out of this house. I really need to find me a job you know."

At about 7:45 a.m. Buffy, Dawn and Faith enter Granny's Diner and see that Mary Margaret is there, where Ruby serves her a coffee at the counter.

Buffy, Dawn and Faith move towards a booth as David enters the diner.

David's stunned for a moment, due to seeing Mary Margaret there, and then quickly exits.

Mary Margaret follows him outside. Buffy, Faith and Dawn follow them to the door, out of sight of Mary Margaret and David.

"What are you doing here?" Mary Margaret asks.

"It's seven forty-five." David says.

"I know!" Mary Margaret says.

"Well, I'm trying not to see you." David says.

"Well, I am trying not to see you." Mary Margaret says.

David nods, "Well, how do we stop seeing each other?"

"Apparently, we can't." Mary Margaret says.

David nods, "This is a problem."

Mary Margaret sighs, "Yes."

"She's not pregnant." David says as he kisses Mary Margaret.

Buffy and Dawn smiles.