AN: Thanks for the incredible response to this new Snowing story! I'm really excited about this one and blending the worlds of Once and Manifest. And it seems my readers are too. I did not classify this as a crossover, because that's not really what it is. This is a Manifest type story with mostly Once characters. I have kept a couple Manifest characters and a few minor ones may pop up. The notable Manifest characters I have kept so far are Vance and Olive as Snowing's daughter. You also do not have to worry about any love triangles for Snowing. That's not my thing and this will always be a Snowing story.
Another thing to note is that I've taken some liberties with the relationships as well. Most notably, Emma and David are siblings and they grew up with Mary Margaret, so Emma and Mary Margaret are very close as well. Due to Robert being a drunk after Ruth dies, David and Mary Margaret pretty much raised Emma while raising themselves. Another thing to note, Henry is in the place of Cal here as Snowing's son and Emma's nephew. Most everything else will become clear as you read. I hope you enjoy this new story and join me on another journey. This one will update bi-weekly on Monday nights. It is much appreciated and here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Yep, gotta love Gold having ulterior motives. Glad you're enjoying the story. :)
Grace5231973: Yep, gotta love the Gold snark here. You find out who Olive's big brother/mentor is in the first scene of this chapter. I love Snowing's relationship here too. Margaret is all in and David is so grateful that he has that. Glad you're enjoying. This story is a lot of fun to write. :)
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Number Ten: Yeah...judging by the direction we've seen so far in the show, I don't think it's aliens, but I could be wrong. I don't know anything about the Stephen King novel. But there's definitely some weird time stuff going on. :)
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, had to throw a "dearies" in there. Gold is always up to something, lol. Yep, Emma is very leery of what this might be. Yeah, they have a soulmate connection. I love it too. Yep, Gold would rather question them together. He knows they're important. Unfortunately no, no flying under the radar here. Emma does take her pop-tarts very seriously. Lol, yep David has to learn about what Alexa is. But it's really violin music. You will find out who Olive's big brother/mentor is in the first scene here. Yep, Gold is very wise and just seems to know things. Glad you're enjoying it! :)
AnonSnowing: I know, I can't help myself. Of course she's in his lap. Yep, David is a very lucky guy for sure. Yep, she's the only non-passenger that showed up. Nope, not even Ben was this lucky at first. Yep, soulmate thing. I love it too. The agitated redhead may be Zelena and it may not. I left it ambiguous on purpose. Yep, she is not letting them ask him their questions without her by his side. They give me warm fuzzies too. Nope, Hurricane Margaret will destroy anyone that tries to get at her husband and children. Yes, Gold is right. They are fascinating. Yep, Margaret Nolan: Bad ass. LOL. Yeah, definitely a pipe dream to be under the radar. Margaret is such a mom, I love it too. Yep, they're like her parents here too. Yes, Cleo Fox is the woman that helped Emma in 5x20. Well, she has Emma's file and I'm sure she has background stuff in there. She's a cop, after all. They do like their adventures. I love Snowing making breakfast together too. Yep, they just had a feeling. I love when she calls him baby too. Glad you're enjoying it. :)
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 7: Follow the Music
Olive finished the climb and her big brother clapped his hands, as she climbed down.
"That was great...you're going to be ready for the big climb this summer in no time," he complimented her.
"Thanks," she said distractedly.
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
"It's fine, Lance…" she answered too quickly. He sighed.
"Olive…" he prodded. She rolled his eyes.
"I'm fine...really good actually. And my Mom is...well, over the moon is probably under selling it," she said. The man smiled thinly.
"That's good...I'm happy for her. But how are you doing with having your dad back?" he asked.
"And your brother, who is now five years younger than you," he added. She sighed.
"It's great...but just weird," she admitted.
"Olive…" he prodded.
"Okay...I sort of told my Dad I couldn't spend time with him, because I wanted to do this with you instead. And now…" she lamented.
"You're feeling guilty," he surmised. She nodded.
"Olive...if your Dad is the guy that you and your Mom have told me he is...then I don't think he'll hold this against you," Lance said.
"I know he won't," she agreed.
"He's a very lucky man to have you...and your Mom," he said, with a note of sadness in his voice. Now she felt even guiltier. At one time, she had hoped her mom might move on with him and now she was glad that she didn't. She felt badly for him, because she knew he still liked her Mom and had been holding out hope.
"It's nothing you did, you know," she blurted out.
"Mom...she just could never move on and it wasn't you," Olive said. He smiled.
"I know...what she and your Dad have seems pretty special," he replied. Olive hoped that he would move on and find someone too.
"Ready for another climb?" Lance asked. She nodded and attached her harness again, ready for more practice.
David came out of the unemployment office that afternoon. He had a few leads and had submitted his resume to several colleges and Universities already. For now though, he was going to go home and browse the market for something he wouldn't hate entirely in the meantime. Suddenly, he heard that same music that he had heard earlier that morning. He followed it, until he heard it coming from a small, makeshift kiosk among a few others near Time Square. It looked old fashioned and he noticed many wood carvings. There were also some modern items too and there were signs advertising repairs for things like small appliances and antiques alike. But most remarkably, he recognized this man as someone who was on the plane and at the hanger last night.
"Excuse me...but what is that music?" David asked. The man showed him a small music box.
"I made it for my boy...when he was very small. He loved it and always had it with him...but he cannot have it where he is now," the man cried.
"Where is he?" David asked.
"Prison...but he didn't do what they said he did!" the man exclaimed. David furrowed his brow and for some reason, couldn't bring himself to walk away.
"Tell me about it...maybe I can help," he said. The man's eyes widened.
"You would do that?" he asked. David smiled.
"There has to be a reason that I heard that exact music in my head this morning and I know what my wife will tell me when I tell her. I'm David Nolan," he introduced himself.
"Marco Booth...you will really help me?" he asked in surprise.
"I'll try," David said, as Marco began to explain his son's situation.
Emma closed the file and saved her work on her computer. She had finally gotten through the mountain of paperwork from the rescue of those two girls. She felt a shadow on her though and looked up to see a woman giving her a cold look. She sighed, vaguely recognizing her as Milah. Milah Rogers.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"So...it's really true," Milah mentioned.
"Yeah…I'm getting that a lot lately," Emma said, as she turned to face her.
"Let me guess...you're here to warn me to stay away from Killian," she replied.
"I...I just need to know if I have anything to worry about," Milah said.
"Not from me...he chose you," Emma replied.
"Only because you were gone," Milah countered.
"Yeah...well, I didn't choose to be gone, so I don't know what you want from me. But I'm not after your husband," Emma assured.
"He hasn't gotten over you...not really," she whispered.
"That's not my problem. I didn't ask for any of this, but I have to deal with it. So do you," Emma replied, as she got up, got her things, and left for the day.
Margaret held her son's hand, as they exited the toy store.
"Wow...thanks Mom. This is great!" he said, as he admired his new Lego set.
"Well...I know how boring the treatments get so I thought we could get you a new set to play with," she said.
"Is Dad meeting us at the hospital?" Henry asked. She nodded.
"He'll be there and then maybe we'll get Ollie and have a spaghetti night," she suggested.
"And board games?" he asked. She smiled.
"Of course...your Dad and I can smoke you two in Monopoly," she teased.
"That's so unfair. You and Dad do know that Monopoly isn't a team player game, right?" Henry teased back. She chuckled.
"True, but with this family, everything is a team effort," she said, as she noticed a woman that they were passing on the street stop and looked at them in awe. It got scarier, as she followed them and put her hand on Henry's shoulder.
"He is risen!" she cried out.
"He is risen!" she called out louder. Margaret pulled her son away from the crazy woman's grip and tried to ignore all the stares now that this woman had drawn attention to them.
"Mom…" Henry said.
"Just keep walking quickly, sweetheart," she said, as she hurried him to the car.
"He is risen!" the woman called again.
"Why is that woman saying that? Is it because of the plane?" Henry asked, as she made sure he was buckled in, before putting the car in gear and driving away.
"I think so...some people are getting crazy over this, honey. That's why your Dad and I want you to never go anywhere by yourself...at least not yet," she told him, as she took a deep breath, just as she knew her husband would tell her to do in these situations. Panic attacks were nothing new to her. She'd been having them since her mother died and up until the last five years, David or Emma had always been there to talk her through them. When they were gone, Ollie got her through them, but Margaret hated leaning on one of her children like that.
"Deep breaths, MM...copy my breathing," she could hear him in her head and she slowly calmed down for the moment.
"Are you okay, Mom?" Henry asked. She gave him a smile.
"I'm fine honey...let's go get your treatment done for the day," she said, as she made a turn that would take them to the hospital.
"So...you went to Jamaica five years ago to do a job?" David asked. Marco nodded.
"I fix very old things and antiques. Everything here is so modern now and computerized. But in other parts of the world, there are still places where skills like mine are sought after. It was a payday that was going to set me and my boy for a while," he explained.
"But then the plane disappeared," David said. He nodded.
"My boy, he was only thirteen, and went into the foster system. But he is a good boy! He got a job and was saving money to open his own repair shop. My boy...he knows how to fix anything, even all the new fangled contraptions!" Marco boasted. David smiled.
"You have children," Marco said knowingly.
"Twins...or they were. Henry was on the plane with me. Olive came home with her mother and she's a teenager now," he replied.
"Then you know...you know what this is like," Marco said. He nodded.
"I do...let's head over the jewelry store where he worked. Maybe we can find something out there and then...I'll call my sister. She's NYPD. Maybe she can get us into Rikers, but no promises," David replied. Marco shook his hand profusely.
"Oh thank you...thank you!" he exclaimed. David patted him on the back and they made the short walk to the jewelry store on the next block.
On the window of the store, there was red writing that stated "Going out of Business." They walked in and saw what they assumed was the owner and a young man.
"Excuse me...we're here to talk to you about August Booth," David interjected.
"You mean the little punk that has run me out of my business?" the shop owner snapped.
"Please...he is my son and I know he did not do this," Marco pleaded.
"Yeah sure...just get out," Mr. Valero snapped, as he went into the back room.
"You have to forgive my father...this business was his life. I'm his son Blake," he said, introducing himself.
"Then you worked with August," David deduced.
"Uh yeah...he was a good guy or so I thought. Hard worker...but then this happened," Blake replied.
"My August is a hard worker and he did not do this!" Marco repeated.
"I'd love to believe that, but the evidence doesn't lie. We caught him using a fake ID to get hired on and there was no break in," Blake argued. David nodded, knowing they weren't going to get any further here.
"Thank you for your time," David said, as he led Marco out.
"What am I going to do?" Marco asked in despair.
"Let me call my sister. It might help if we get August's side of the story," David suggested, as he dialed.
"Hey Em...I need a favor," he said.
"What's up?" she asked.
"I'm trying to help another passenger. His son is in Riker's and he's innocent," David replied.
"Do you know how many guys in Riker's are innocent, David?" she asked in exasperation.
"Em...please, the kid was just thirteen when the plane disappeared. Can't you at least see if we can get his father in to see him?" he asked. He heard her sigh.
"I literally just got my badge back today, but I'll see what I can do," she said.
"Thanks Em," he said, as he hung up the phone. While they waited, they left the jewelry shop and walked across the street. David bought them two coffees and they sat down on a bench. He got a text and Marco was clearly anxious.
"Is that her?" he asked.
"Oh no...it's my wife," he said, as he quickly texted back.
"She was with you last night...she was not on the plane," he mentioned. He smiled.
"She wasn't...but she supports me in everything and we do everything together," he replied, with a scoff.
"Except the plane. I stayed behind with my sister, because she was trying to squeeze out a couple more hours away from home. But Margaret...with her, it was like falling right back into place without even skipping a beat," he said.
"You are a very lucky man...you have a beautiful family," Marco replied, as he saw the picture of the four of them on his lock screen. David smiled.
"I am...and that's why I'm going to do what I can to reunite you with yours," he promised, as Emma texted him back.
"She got us in," he said, as they stood up.
"Let's go," David said, as he led him to his car.
Margaret smiled, as she talked to her husband on the phone, while Henry was having his treatment.
"You don't have to apologize, my love. I am so glad you are helping this man visit his son. Your son is just fine and will be happy that his dad is helping others in need," she assured him.
"I still can't believe how lucky I am. I tell you that I heard music in my head and it led me to another passenger and the word crazy never crossed your lips," he said.
"And it never will. You're such a good man and helping this man is the right thing to do," she replied.
"I feel that too...but I should be home in time for dinner. Want me to pick something up?" he asked.
"No, that's okay. I promised Henry spaghetti and board games," she replied. She could hear him smile through his words.
"That sounds amazing. I'll pick some ice cream up on the way home to go with it and then you'll tell me what happened with you today? Henry texted me about some weird lady?" he asked.
"Oh yeah...I was going to text you about that too, but I think it's better explained in person," she said.
"You're okay though?" he asked. She smiled.
"I'm fine, promise," she assured.
"Okay...I'll see you tonight. I love you so much," he said.
"I love you too, be careful," she replied, as they hung up the phone, just as she saw Emma come in.
"Hey...I wasn't expecting to see you until tonight. How was your first day back?" Margaret asked.
"Stupid," Emma grumbled, as she collapsed into a chair beside her.
"Oh no...what happened?" Margaret asked.
"Well, I got cleared for duty and Graham decides that it's a good idea to make me Killian's partner," Emma replied. Margaret winced.
"That has to be awkward," she agreed.
"Yeah...and I'm not the only one that thinks so. I got a visit from Milah," she said.
"Oh my Gosh...why?" she asked.
"Why do you think?" she asked in return.
"She thinks Killian's feelings for you are still there and now that you're back...she feels threatened," Margaret deduced.
"Yup…" Emma replied.
"What did you tell her?" Margaret asked.
"I told her that she doesn't have to be worried about me. He married her," Emma replied.
"And she accepted that?" Margaret asked. Emma snorted.
"Of course not...that would make my life easier," she joked.
"Em…" Margaret prodded. The blonde sighed.
"She implied that he probably only chose her, because I was gone. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?" Emma asked. Margaret squeezed her hand.
"I don't know, sweetie...I can't imagine the position you're in. I wish I could do more for you," she said. Emma smiled at her and rested her head on Margaret's shoulder.
"You do...you're always here for me," she replied.
"Always," Margaret said.
"Since I was six...wow, that's wild," Emma replied. Margaret giggled.
"That was a day...I'm surprised you remember it. You were so little," Margaret said.
"You were too, but then you met David that day too so I know you remember it," Emma teased. Margaret smiled, as she bit her bottom lip and recalled the memories of that day with fondness.
"Please…" Emma whined, as she gave her older brother puppy eyes and he sighed.
"Fine, one more time. But I'm getting tired, Emmy," David said, as he lifted her up one more time. She grabbed the monkey bars and he walked her across them, while she moved her hands. He put her down and they ran over as their mother called them. They noticed she was talking to another woman and a little girl, which made them curious.
Mary Margaret clung to her mother's leg, as they arrived at the playground. This was not their normal neighborhood, but Eva didn't like the playgrounds in their rich, uppity neighborhood. The children that played there were not being instilled with the values that she wanted her little girl to have. She didn't want her daughter growing up thinking that money and class were what mattered most about a person, so they ventured out today to the neighborhood where Eva had grown up instead.
"It's okay snowdrop...there's lots of other children that will love playing with you," she assured her shy daughter.
"She is darling…" another woman mentioned from a bench and Eva smiled.
"Oh thank you...I'm Eva and this is Mary Margaret, my pride and joy," she said. Ruth smiled at the tiny raven haired girl.
"Hello Mary Margaret...that's such a beautiful name. I'm Ruth. Those two are mine," she said, as she pointed at the two blonde children.
"They're beautiful too. We are hoping this playground will be better than the last one," Eva said.
"Oh I'm sure mine would love to play with Mary Margaret," Ruth said, as she called them over.
"David...Emma, this is Mary Margaret," Ruth said.
"Hi…" David said, a bit shyly.
"Hi…" Mary Margaret said, also shyly.
"Hi...I'm Emma. Your name is pretty, but long. Can I call you MM?" Emma asked.
"Uh...sure," Mary Margaret replied.
"Wanna do monkey bars with me?" Emma asked, as she took her hand and dragged her onto the playground. Eva chuckled and sat down beside Ruth.
"I'm not big enough to do monkey bars," Mary Margaret said.
"Me either. David helps me sometimes," Emma replied.
"Uh...yeah I can help you," David chimed in and she smiled.
"Okay," Mary Margaret said, as he lifted her up so she could reach the bars.
"I thought you said you were tired," Emma complained.
"Well, I'm not anymore," he retorted in annoyance, as he helped Mary Margaret with the monkey bars.
They chuckled at the memories.
"He was already smitten," Emma teased.
"Well, he wasn't the only one. I mean that curly blonde hair he had and the baby muscles...oooh…" Margaret gushed.
"Yeah, yeah I do not need to hear stories about my brother's muscles," Emma complained, as her phone rang.
"It's the station...I gotta take this," Emma said, as she stepped away. Margaret smiled and relished all the memories they had, as she waited for her son's treatment to be over for the day.