Sorry this is late. Family showed up at my house last night and all track of time was lost. :)
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: Thanks, glad you're enjoying it! :)
Grace5231973: I know, Lance really stepped in it here. Yeah, Killian is pushing a bit too much. I really liked the scene where Margaret told Lance off too. I think they'll be okay too. :)
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Sexystarwarslover: Yeah, Lance definitely overstepped here and Margaret made it clear that he can't do that again. Yeah, a letter from the life insurance company probably isn't good. Yep, Snowing forever. Yep, Leopold blew it forever with Margaret. Yep, a bit of mystery here, but I think we know why he needs to find Bethany. Yep, Emma loves when Margaret mothers her, lol. Yeah, Leopold is the worst. I think Killian does still love her, but he's married. But he did take the blame for her so that's something. Yeah, Olive got scared, but Lance really made the mistake by not correcting the shop and telling them to call David and Margaret. Glad you're enjoying. :)
Number Ten: Yeah, it's a bit of a mess. Olive will be okay though. Glad you're enjoying.
Guest: Good question and we'll find out more about the calling in this chapter. I'm glad Margaret put her foot down with Lance too. He overstepped. No, I think Killian truly still loves Emma so he took the fall for her. Glad you're enjoying.
AnonSnowing: Yep, they love their ice cream! Yep, the NSA probably wants to do the autopsy. Yep, Cora and Leopold are scumbags for sure. Yeah, Sexy Snowing times! Yeah, I'd say that it's probably something that looks like schizophrenia. We'll find out why he's looking for Bethany. Yeah, that stake out would be awkward. Yeah, Emma loves when Margaret mothers her, lol. Yep, Leopold is the worst. No, we still don't know what actually happened to the plane. It's anyone's guess at this point and I'm excited for season 3 in January. Yep, they got the same calling. Yes, they are all stupid not to hire David. Yeah, David memorized them all and I agree with Margaret too that it's adorable. Yep, Thomas isn't on the manifest. Yeah, Olive messed up. Yeah, David loves her, no matter what. Yeah, Lance really stepped in it here and deserved everything Margaret said. Glad you're enjoying it! :)
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 16: Unclaimed Baggage, Pt 2
Regina knocked on the door and a African American woman answered. Regina instantly recognized her as the flight attendant on 828.
"Bethany Collins?" David asked.
"You're passengers," she recalled and they nodded.
"You were in 8A...your laptop was broken during the turbulence," she recalled and then looked at him.
"And you were in 3A, next to the little boy in 2A," she said.
"Yes...we need your help," Regina replied, as she opened the file and showed him the man from the hospital.
"Do you know him?" she asked, stunning her.
"Thomas...you found him?" she asked. Regina nodded.
"He's being detained in the hospital where I work and he is showing erratic signs...things that other passengers are experiencing," Regina said awkwardly.
"The thing is...he's not on the manifest, so we're not sure how that's possible," David replied.
"He's being detained?" Bethany asked.
"They have determined that he's schizophrenic," Regina replied.
"No...no he's just confused. And he's not on the manifest...because I sneaked him on board," she confessed.
"He was a stowaway?" David asked.
"He's my nephew, Leo's boyfriend. I was helping them get out of Jamaica, because being gay there is extremely dangerous. Leo made it out on another flight and I helped Thomas hide on ours," she explained.
"When the plane landed, I made him sneak his way out through the landing gear. I told him to run to the place where he and Leo always met. A fountain," she continued, as she pulled something up on her phone.
"Wait...this is where he went?" Regina asked.
"Yes...it's the Angel of the Waters. It's their favorite play," Bethany replied sadly.
"When I told Thomas to run, it was before I found out that we had been gone five and a half years. I later discovered that Leo made it back, but he disappeared two years after the plane," she replied and their hearts sank for her.
"I haven't been able to find Leo or Thomas to explain to him what's going on," Bethany replied.
"This...this is what I saw in my Calling?" Regina said, showing it to David.
"You're sure?" he asked.
"Calling?" Bethany asked.
"It's a long story, but I can take you to Thomas," Regina replied.
"The sooner the better. If Thomas is talking, he might let it slip about being on the plane and that will get to Vance really quickly," David said, looking at them both.
"If the NSA gets to him first...we'll never get him back," he replied, as Bethany grabbed her handbag and followed them to his car.
"Well...that was an epic fail…" Vance commented, as he looked over the Intel on the botched ATF operation from earlier that day.
"Yes...Detective Rogers certainly screwed the pooch on that one, as they say," Gold commented. Vance looked skeptical though.
"Or maybe he's covering for his old girlfriend," he said.
"He is still carrying a torch for her, for sure," Gold agreed.
"It's not like Emma Nolan to make that kind of mistake though, judging by her record. Unless she is getting some information we're not aware of," Vance speculated.
"You think Miss Nolan is involved in something sinister?" Gold questioned.
"I don't know…" Vance replied, as one of his agents came into the room and seemed urgent.
"You'll want to see this right away," Tim said.
"Tisbe Taylor's autopsy...that was fast," Vance replied.
"That's not all. Here's the other file on that patient of interest at the hospital where Regina Mills works," he added, as he opened it up and put the brain scans side by side.
"What am I looking at?" Vance questioned.
"According to our doctors, they have the same protein in their blood and this same marker," Tim said.
"But this Thomas Struck wasn't on the manifest," Vance said.
"Maybe he was. According to the information we have, he is Bethany Collins' nephew's boyfriend. I did some digging. He and the boyfriend were in Jamaica in 2014. Leo left on a different flight and there's no record of Thomas anywhere since then for the last five years," Tim reported, giving Vance the realization.
"There was a stowaway on flight 828," he realized.
"It may be beneficial for us to speak to this young man," Gold said.
"I agree...let's go," Vance replied.
As they arrived at the hospital, they found Emma waiting for them outside Regina's lab.
"MM said you were here…" she said.
"We're trying to help Bethany with a patient...a stowaway," David replied quietly.
"On the plane?" she asked.
"Yeah...they think he's schizophrenic," Regina replied.
"But you think he's having Callings," Emma realized.
"What are these Callings?" Bethany asked.
"It's a bit of a story and I'll help too, but I really need to talk to you for a minute," Emma replied urgently.
"Go...meet us there," Regina said, as she took Bethany to find Thomas.
"What's going on...you're practically shaking," he said worriedly.
"I screwed up so badly, David," she said tearfully and he pulled her into a hug.
"Em...whatever it is, we'll fix it," he promised, as he cradled her head.
"I don't think we can. I blew an huge ATF operation, because of a Calling earlier," she explained.
"It said "save him"…" she added.
"That's the same one Regina got…" he realized.
"But I didn't see any stone angels," she said and then closed her eyes.
"I misread it...I thought it meant the ATF agent," she realized.
"Is Graham going to fire you?" David asked.
"No...but that's only because Killian took the fall for me," she replied.
"Ah," he said awkwardly.
"He did...and I have to tell him why I blew that operation," she replied.
"You mean about the Callings?" he asked. She nodded.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Em," he warned, as he got a text and his brow furrowed. It was a simple text and that was what worried him. Just three simple words from Margaret. I need you.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"MM needs me," he replied.
"Go," she urged and he looked up at her.
"Go...I'll help Regina and Bethany," Emma promised. He nodded and hugged her, gently cupping her head.
"Thanks Em…" he said, as he hurried off. Emma was grateful for the distraction and found her way through the halls to a room where Regina and Bethany were staring at an empty bed.
"Save him...I got the calling too earlier," she interjected.
"You did?" Regina asked.
"I didn't see the stone angel like you did and so I didn't put it together until it was too late...but I think I'm meant to help on this one. David had to go help MM," she replied. The two women nodded.
"Wait...stone angel?" Bethany asked.
"I didn't see it, but Regina did. It was the same calling though," Emma explained.
"Yes...a stone angel with water at her feet," Regina explained.
"The Angel of the Waters…" Bethany realized.
"The what?" Emma asked.
"It's from Thomas' favorite play...I know where he went," she replied, as Emma looked out of the door and saw Vance coming.
"Uh...problem. Is there another way out of here?" she asked.
"That door leads to a back hallway," Regina replied, as she led them through it.
"We have to find him. He's confused and he had to learn by himself that five years passed while that plane was in the air," Bethany said.
"We'll find him," Emma assured.
"Why the angel statue?" Regina asked.
"Because that's where he and Leo were going to meet…" Bethany replied, as they jumped into Emma's car. She sped away, just as Vance caught up to them. He sighed in frustration, as they were gone before he could catch them.
David arrived home and found Margaret in the garage, sitting on the floor with a box and surrounded by mounds of papers.
"Hey...what's going on?" he asked, as he sat down and she met him with a watery gaze.
"I got a letter today...from the insurance company," she replied, as she handed it to him.
"They want their money back," she muttered.
"Because I'm not dead," he realized.
"Most of it is gone. I thought I was doing the right thing by paying off the house and debt. Then there were the funerals. I mean...we still have a sizable amount of your mother's money left, but not this. This wipes us out...and then some," she fretted.
"What are we going to do?" she asked worriedly.
"Hey no...we're going to figure this out. Let me take some time and go over the numbers. You know that's my thing," he replied. She nodded.
"You're not alone in this anymore, my love," he reminded her and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I know...and that's not all that happened today," she replied.
"Tell me...even if you think I won't like hearing it," he requested. She sighed.
"Olive...was caught shoplifting today," she said, with a wince. He was stunned.
"Shoplifting?" he asked. She nodded.
"But why?" he wondered.
"Well...if I had to guess, she's acting out and dealing with a lot," she replied. He sighed.
"Like the time Emma shoplifted when she was going through those rough patches as a teen," he surmised. She hummed in agreement.
"Emma really tested us...we should be ready for Olive to do this," he said. She snorted.
"No one is ever ready for this," she said.
"I suppose you're right," he agreed.
"The thing is...the store didn't call me, because she didn't tell them to. She sort of lied and had them call Lance. She told them he was her guardian," she revealed.
"Oh…" he said, with a note of sadness in his voice.
"We talked briefly though and she says she did it, because she's ashamed and knows that you still see her as your little girl. I think she's afraid that you'll lose that image," she explained.
"Never...she'll always be my baby girl, no matter what," he assured. She nodded.
"I know...and she will too when she hears it from you," she said, as she kissed him tenderly.
"Then I'll go talk to her," he replied.
"I told Lance he can't step in like that for you again. I was very clear," she assured him. He smiled.
"I know you were...but I don't really blame him. I want Olive to feel comfortable calling me again when she's in trouble, but I know it will take time," he said. She climbed into his lap at that, straddling him.
"You are being very understanding, my love...but then you always are," she said fondly.
"Of course...you two went through hell. But I'm here now and it will take time to realize that. A bit more time for Olive than you," he said, as he caressed her face. She smiled at him and kissed him again.
"Give me a little time and I'll figure out this problem too and then I'll talk to Olive," he said, as they got up.
"Have I told you that you're my hero?" she asked. He smiled.
"I live to be your hero," he replied, as she left him in the garage to do what he did best. He set up a white board and started looking through the documents and with a marker in hand, he went to work.
They arrived at the Bethesda terrace and fountain in Central Park. Emma parked the car and the three of them hurried to the fountain, with Bethany being the first to spot Thomas.
"Thomas!" she called, as she reached him.
"I can't find him…" the young man said.
"Oh Thomas...I know. It's been over five years since we left on that plane," she told him. His eyes widened.
"Then it's true?" he asked. She nodded.
"I saw it in the newspaper...but I didn't think it could be true," he replied.
"I'm sorry...I found out that Leo disappeared two years after he got back to New York," she told him. Tears filled his eyes.
"He's gone?" he asked. She nodded.
"No one knows what happened to him," she revealed, as they hugged.
"Bethany…I don't mean to rush you, but we have to go. It won't take Vance long to find us," Emma urged.
"Where will we go? We can't let Vance get to him. He's the perfect scapegoat in all of this. They'll railroad him or worse," Regina said. Emma sighed.
"I think I know somewhere we can hide him for now until we figure things out," Emma said, as Bethany led him back to the car.
"Come on...we can trust them," she assured, as she led him to the car to make a quick getaway.
An hour later, Margaret peered in and found her husband in front of one of his white boards, which was filled with math and formulas and glasses on. She was sure no man had ever made math sexy, except him. She sided up to him, as he stared at his work and he dropped a kiss to her head.
"We're going to be okay," he said.
"Really?" she asked. He nodded.
"Their letter is filled with demands that we pay back all the money in one lump sum, but if you dig into the fine print, they really have no legal leg to stand on," he replied.
"They don't?" she asked.
"I may be alive, but for five years I was gone. And as much as they wish they probably did, they have no disappearing plane that returns five years later clause," he replied. She smiled.
"So they can't demand we pay it back in one lump sum?" Margaret asked.
"Well, they can try. Of course, they count on people not being able to do all the math the way I can, but according to this contract, they have to accept what we can pay," he said.
"Meaning?" she asked. He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"We just have to pay something every month...whatever we can. And they have to accept it," he replied. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh thank God...why wouldn't they just tell me that?" she asked. He chuckled.
"Because they would just love to get all their money back at once, but they can't do that. Besides, I somehow doubt this kind of thing happens that often. Not too many people come back from the dead. They probably feel like we've duped them or something," he surmised.
"Instead you turned the tables on them with numbers," she said, before smiling.
"That is some sexy math…" she purred, as she nuzzled her nose against his.
"You think?" he asked.
"Oh I know…" she answered, as their lips met in a passionate kiss. She bit her bottom lip and flipped the lock on the door, before kissing him again with wanton passion. She yelped, as he lifted her up and sat her down on the workbench. She smiled and started undoing the buttons on his shirt. The kids were upstairs and their son was notorious for interrupting them, so they would have to be quick. But as usual, they needed each other in that moment and frantically pulled clothing away.
"So beautiful…" he rasped, as he kissed at her breasts and she hooked her ankles around his waist.
"David…" she begged and he moved inside her. She moaned and bucked her hips, meeting his thrusts with her own, as they made love right there on the workbench.
"I think...I'm fogging up your glasses…" she breathed between her cries of pleasure.
"Want me to...take them off?" he asked in a husky tone, barely able to get the words out, as the feeling of being inside her consumed him in a euphoria.
"Don't you dare…" she warned. He kissed her again and the workbench shook, as he pumped harder, searching for completion. She came first and he was seconds behind her, as they rode their orgasms together, before collapsing in each other's arms. She leaned against him and he kissed her hair.
"I love you so much...I'm never letting you go again," she whispered.
"Never, my love...we just proved that not even death can separate us," he replied, as they heard the door knob catch.
"Hey...why is this locked?" they heard their son ask.
"Mom? Dad?" he asked.
"Uh...hang on honey, we'll be right there," Margaret called, as they frantically started putting their clothes on.
"How come the door is locked?" Henry asked.
"Um...your Dad was just helping me with a math problem," she called, as they finished dressing and opened the door. He looked between them, not missing their wrinkled clothes and sweaty appearance.
"Math...yeah right," he said, as he rolled his eyes. David chuckled and they followed him back into the house.
"What did you need, honey?" Margaret asked.
"Olive won't help me with my Lego Death Star," he replied.
"Oh well...I can help you with that and maybe Daddy can go talk to Ollie," she suggested. He smiled and kissed her cheek.
"On it," he said, knowing it was well past time that he and their daughter talked.
Emma led her three companions through the subway tunnels, until she found the room she was looking for and led them inside.
"This is a boiler room. You should be safe staying here for a while," Emma said.
"It's warm and I'll go get you some food and blankets," she added. Bethany smiled.
"Thank you," she said, as she surprised the blonde by hugging her. Emma smiled and hugged her back.
"I guess I'm just taking a page from my brother and sister-in-law's book. We all went through something up there together, on the plane, even if we don't know it. And that means we have to figure this out together too," Emma replied. Bethany nodded with a smile.
"I'll stay with him until you get back," Bethany said. Emma nodded, as she and Regina went toward the exit.
"Thanks for helping today...you didn't have to risk your career like this," Regina said.
"Yes, I did. Like I said, we're in this together. All of us...and I know David and MM will agree," Emma replied. Regina smiled slightly and followed her out.
"Nice to have family now, isn't it?" the blonde asked. Regina's smile brightened at that.
"It is at that. How do you suppose the kids would feel about their new Aunt surprising them and their parents with ice cream?" Regina asked.
"Oh, that will definitely be welcomed very warmly at the Nolan house. Grab me some rocky road?" Emma asked. Regina nodded.
"Consider it done," she agreed, as they parted ways for the moment.