Lost little girl
Lovatic-once-upon-a-time asked for a oneshot of David finding an 11-year-old girl wandering around Storybrooke during the winter. She doesn't seem to like men. He brings her home and she immediately bonds with Mary Margaret. She is very small for her age, and she also happens to be Emma. David and MM decide to keep her and find out she has a dark past.
David Nolan resentfully slumped around the back alleys of Storybrooke with his torch. He pulled his scarf tighter around his neck with his gloved hands to try and rid himself of the chill creeping up around him. This was the problem with being the co-sheriff in such a small town. You got called out to the most ridiculous complaints. In this case, one from Granny about some wild animal at her dumpster round the back of the diner. David questioned how she heard them in the first place, seeing as her bedroom was three floors up, but she just said she might be old, but she had faultless hearing. So here David was at three in the morning looking for a fox or a racoon just wanting a late night snack. He was about to call it a night and assumed the poor thing had gone back to its den when he heard a rustling sound. Not wanting Granny to spit in his breakfast the next morning because he hadn't dealt with it, David aimed his torch in the direction of the noise. David just about dropped the torch in shock at what he thought he saw. Surely not? But the shadow had dived in between two dumpsters. David slowly approached the two dumpsters and aimed the light in the little space between them. He had been correct. It was a little girl. She shielded her eyes from the light, cowering away from him.
"Don't be scared." He said gently. He aimed the torch away from her face and crouched down so they were at eye level. This seemed to frighten her more. She tried to scurry away, but David blocked the space.
"Hey there." He said gently. He didn't recognise the little girl, which was unusual. Everybody knew everybody in Storybrooke. "Sweetheart, it's ok. I'm here to help you. I'm a policeman, see?" He said, showing her his badge. She still looked like a deer caught in the headlights. David didn't know what the feeling was, but his gut was telling him not to take this little girl in. He knew Regina could have his badge for this (she looked for any excuse), but he wasn't taking her back to the station. He was taking her home.
"My name is David." He said gently. "Can you tell me yours?" The little girl seemed reluctant. "It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you, or let anyone else hurt you." He promised her. The little girl looked at him curiously, but after a moment, she seemed to relax just a little.
"Emma." She said quietly. David nodded.
"That's a pretty name." He told her. She didn't like that. She backed further up. "Hey, don't panic." He told her. "My wife and I, we have a spare bedroom in our house. I can take you home for tonight, if you want? You can meet Mary Margaret. She's really nice. She might have something you can use for nightclothes." He told her. Charming saw this little girl was tiny and skinny. At best one of Mary Margaret's tops could become a dress for her. But it was better than leaving her in the torn, threadbare, clothes she was currently in. The little girl chewed at her lip. "Sweetheart, I'm gonna level with you, I can't on good conscious leave you here to eat garbage and freeze tonight. I can either take you to my place with my wife. Or, I have to take you back to the station and call it in here and now. What do you say?" The little girl looked like she was going to burst into tears.
"Please don't call social services." She pleased with him. "And please don't hurt me." That broke Charming's heart. What had happened to her?
"Oh honey, I'm not going to hurt you." He promised. Emma sniffed.
"Can we go to your house?" She asked. Charming smiled, getting up. "Of course. I'll call my wife now." He said, taking out his phone. David then beckoned the little girl to follow him. She did so. He went to put his hand on her shoulder, but her flinching put him off.
By the time they got back to his loft apartment, Mary Margaret was waiting at the door. She looked horrified when she saw Emma.
"Hi honey." She said. "Why don't you come inside? We've got food in the fridge, and plenty of hot water. You can have a shower, if you like?" She said. Emma nodded eagerly, slipping into the house. Mary Margaret smiled at her. Emma smiled back. Emma didn't understand it, but she felt a connection to this couple. Even the man, otherwise she wouldn't have come back to his home.
Mary Margaret showed Emma the bathroom and how to work the shower. She left her a top to wear as a nightgown for when she came out and promised to have a grilled cheese ready for her. Emma enjoyed the shower. She'd been out in the cold for so long. She enjoyed the feeling returning to her fingers and toes. Then, true to her word, Mary Margaret had a piping hot grilled cheese waiting for her.
"Nice shower?" Mary Margaret asked her. Emma nodded, devouring the greasy goodness. "So…we know that your name is Emma, how old are you?" Mary Margaret asked her.
"Eleven." Emma said shyly. David and Mary Margaret were shocked. How could this girl be eleven? She was so tiny. Mary Margaret had pegged her at about eight.
"Ok sweetheart. Is there anyone we can call for you? Are you lost?" She asked. Emma's eyes widened in horror.
"No. Please don't send me back!" She begged. Mary Margaret couldn't help it. She pulled Emma into her arms. The little girl immediately calmed down.
"It's ok, we're not sending you anywhere." Mary Margaret promised her. "The only place you're going is to bed. Want me to show you our guest room?" Mary Margaret nodded. "Alright then." She said, "come on upstairs." David let them both go. He frowned. There was something dark about that little girl. She was certainly more content with Mary Margaret than with him, which troubled him.
Mary Margaret came down about fifteen minutes later.
"Poor thing." She sighed. "She was out like a light as soon as her head hit the pillow. I don't know when she last slept in a bed." Mary Margaret looked up at David. "I know I'm being crazy, and I know we're meant to hand her over, but David…there's something about Emma. I don't think I can lose her now. I feel like she's meant to be here, with us. I think we're meant to be her family." David took Mary Margaret's shoulders.
"I agree." He said. Mary Margaret looked at him, astounded. She hadn't expected to convince him so quickly. But she was grateful she had. They both agreed Emma wasn't going anywhere.
