AN: Thanks for the incredible response to this Snowing story! See previous chapter for important authors notes on characters and story notes.

Just a couple of notes for the last chapter and the next few. The Characters of Aaron Glover, the podcaster and Paul and Helen Santino are from Manifest and not Once characters. Another note: In this universe, Killian and Liam are not related, nor do they know one another.

Special Note: By now, those who watch Manifest, will have seen the season 3 finale. I won't say anything else in case someone hasn't seen it, but I can assure you that there will be certain changes. No decisions yet, as I'm kind of waiting to see what happens in season 4, if we get one. But yeah, I'm already gaming out how to get around a certain major character death. Just FYI.

Another Special Note: By now, most of you know that NBC made the horrible decision to cancel Manifest, despite ending season 3 on a terrible cliffhanger. The series creator says he is committed to giving the series some kind of conclusion, even if it just means a wrap up movie or something. No word yet on if anything is happening. However, if it doesn't, I will finish this story and give it some kind of conclusion. Just FYI.

This one will update bi-weekly on Monday nights. Please consider leaving a review, it is much appreciated. Here are individual responses to reviews:

Ghostwriter: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

Jennifer Baratta: Thanks!

Number Ten: Liam thinks Glinda is somehow involved, based on her research. Obviously we can see that she had no control either, but Liam isn't exactly being rational. He's unraveling. Yeah, Netflix and NBC are back in talks. It might actually get rescued, after all since it's spent 45 days in the top ten on Netflix already. Turns out NBC canceled to make room for yet another Law and Order spin off that nobody wants or needs. Then it must have sucked so much that they passed on it so now they and Netflix are back in talks with Warner Bros, so I'm crossing my fingers. I know, shows that are cheaply produced like serial dramas last way too long and intriguing niche shows never get a chance. Plus NBC still looks at ratings like it's the 1960's, except no one watches TV like they used to. It's frustrating. A bunch of boomers should not be making these decisions. Okay, my rant is done. Glad you're enjoying. :)

Grace5231973: I feel bad for Liam too. We know he's unraveling and no one can blame him. Yep, New York Slimes for sure. Glad you enjoyed it! I like seeing Margaret on the warpath too. :)

Sexystarwarslover: Yeah, he shouldn't be getting the blame, but he can't see how unreasonable blaming Glinda is right now either. Yep, Liam has a map too. Yeah, Margaret is really happy and yet everyone is gossiping like there is something wrong with her and her family. They should be happy for her, but at least she knows she still has a few friends. Yeah, a double date would be interesting. Yep, Sidney is printing lies and gossip. Yeah, Aurora may be spying on Emma. Yep, David and Liam have found the meteorologist. Yep, Margaret is fired up. Emma might actually be right about her and Killian here. I love Margaret being a "mom" to Emma too. Yep, that's definitely not what happened in the sky. Glad you enjoyed it!

AnonSnowing: Yep, the Captain has a board too. Yeah, it is a little suspicious that her research is basically what happened to them. Glinda is Fiona Clarke on the show. And yes, she was a passenger, but didn't get Callings. I'm glad Margaret basically told them off too. Yeah, seems like they still have a few friends. Yeah, Margaret feels like half her heart is with David. A way to have the heart split without having the heart split. Yep, Sidney is a snake, writing lies and gossip. I agree, Emma and Henry are adorable together. Yep, Aurora is spying. Yeah, I'm sure Lance isn't happy about the article either. Yeah, this family is true and solid. I love that Margaret is such a mom to Emma too. Yeah, it's easier to get Henry and Olive to eat veggies than Emma. Yep, hard to say what happened in the sky, but Liam is probably going about it all wrong in finding out. But he's unraveling and desperate. Glad you're enjoying!

Lightning in a Bottle

Chapter 35: Contrails, Pt 3

David arrived at the beach house upstate and Glinda let him in.

"Hey...I didn't expect to see you back here so soon," she mentioned.

"Yeah…I've been with Captain Jones all day," he said.

"Ah...he is not my biggest fan," she replied.

"No...he's not. Is he right?" David asked point blank.

"The Captain thinks I'm involved with the disappearance of the plane...I'm not surprised," she replied.

"Your research does seem to line up with what's happening to us. The mind linking for starters," David said.

"Yes…I believe that we have moved toward a new evolutionary step. But whatever happened to us on that plane happened organically. I could have never set something like that up...even if I wanted to. I think you and I both know that this is much bigger than that," Glinda reasoned and David nodded, inclining to agree.

"We think something called dark lightning had something to do with what happened up there," he mentioned.

"Is that what we flew through?" she asked.

"Apparently, but the flight conditions in the official report are fake. We found the meteorologist that recorded the storm that night and he gave us the real specs," David revealed.

"So they lied…" she said. He nodded.

"We went back to the simulator and input the real conditions from that night into the simulator. Captain Jones emulated everything he did that night and flew through the storm...and every time we crashed," he said. She blinked.

"Which we clearly didn't...but it's an imperfect experiment. Obviously, a simulation isn't going to jump through time like we did in the plane," she reasoned.

"That's what I tried to tell him...but he's unraveling. He's determined to prove his innocence. I get it...his career is over otherwise," David said. She nodded.

"Thank you for telling me and keep me posted?" she asked. He nodded.

"And David?" she called, as he turned back.

"I truly do not know what happened up there, but I think if anyone is going to find out, it's going to be you," she said. He considered that for a moment, before leaving to go home for the evening.

Once Emma left her apartment that day, Aurora sneaked back in and, having swiped an extra key, entered her place. She had orders to find the binder and take pictures of what was in it. She rifled around in Emma's bedroom and finally found the binder. She opened it and took out her flip phone, before snapping pictures of several of the pages. She pocketed her phone and put the binder away. She was about to leave when she spotted young Henry Nolan's sketchbook on Emma's coffee table. She paused and then sat down on the edge of the couch to look at the drawings. She flipped through a few and then froze on one page, looking a little upset. She tore the page out and folded it up, before stuffing it in her pocket. She then made her way out and locked the door behind her.

"Hey Emma," Graham greeted, as she munched on a pop-tart.

"Hey…" she said, as she poured some coffee and took a sip.

"I have a special one for you today that just came in. Uniforms are already on the scene and we think it's accidental. Just want to be sure," he said, as he handed her the file. She opened the file and became frozen. It was the meteorologist her brother had just talked to. Roger Mencin.

"Wait...accidental? Are you sure?" she asked. He shrugged.

"Boating accident...alcohol on his breath. It's looking that way, so probably just routine," Graham said, as he went back to his office. Emma grabbed her coffee and got into the car, before starting the drive. In the meantime though, she called David. It would likely be ruled accidental, but she knew it wasn't. He had been silenced.

David arrived home that evening and found the kids at the table, playing a game. He dropped kisses on their heads, as they greeted him and then moved into the kitchen, finding the love of his life there, making dinner.

"Mmm...smells great in here," he mentioned, as he put his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. She smiled and turned her head so he could kiss her tenderly.

"Well, after a couple nights of pizza and takeout, I thought we should have a real meal," she said.

"How was your day?" he asked.

"Mostly good," she replied.

"Mostly?" he asked.

"Okay…I'm going to show you this, but you have to promise not to plot the demise of the reporter," she replied. He chuckled.

"This should be good...but I promise," he said, as she showed him the article and he skimmed it.

"He published pics of Ollie?" he hissed, outraged by the newspaper's exploitation of their daughter.

"I know...I sent a really nasty email to them. I was livid when I saw it and I only saw it, because it was today's gossip subject in the teacher's lounge," she said. He sighed.

"I really hope the fascination fades soon," he said.

"Me too. What about your day? How did things go with Captain Jones?" she asked.

"Well, we found the meteorologist that recorded the real weather conditions from that night. Once we input those conditions into the simulator, the Captain did everything just like he did that night," he said.

"And?" she asked.

"We crashed every time. I saw the storm too...it was intense," he replied.

"But the plane didn't really crash," she said.

"No...but the simulator isn't going to act the same way. The Captain was pretty upset though...he's unraveling," he mentioned.

"Is that what's got you so unnerved?" she asked.

"It's not just that," he said, as he got quiet for a moment.

"Come on baby...talk to me. We've always been able to tell each other everything," she reminded. He sighed.

"It's just that...the Captain has a wall like mine. You know, people, a timeline of events, etcetera and it looks a little nuts," he lamented.

"And then I realize that my wall is just like his...and I wonder if you see what I saw when you look at me," he said.

"Of course not...that's just how you work things out. It always has been. You are not crazy," she replied. He gave her a look.

"I hear voices in my head," he reminded her.

"No, you get Callings and sometimes, they allow you to help people. It's like you have an extra sense now," she reasoned. He cocked his head to the side.

"I guess I didn't think about it like that," he said. She smiled and kissed him again.

"What I see when I look at you is my husband and the father of my children. I see the man I love and I see that everything he does is to protect this family," she added. He smiled and they shared another kiss, before he helped her set the table for dinner.

They ate together as a family, enjoying the normalness of such and it was at the end that Emma came in.

"Hey…I didn't think we'd see you tonight," Margaret said, pleasantly surprised.

"Yeah…I wish I was here to stay," Emma replied.

"What's going on?" David asked.

"Roger Mencin...the meteorologist is dead," Emma replied.

"What?" David questioned.

"How did it happen?" Margaret asked.

"Boating accident, apparently," Emma replied. David scoffed.

"Yeah right…" he said, sighing.

"I tried calling the Captain and he's not answering. I think we need to check on him if you think he's ready to go off the deep end," Emma said. He nodded.

"If he wasn't before...this would push him over," David agreed, as he looked at his wife.

"Go…" she urged. He kissed her quickly and followed Emma out.

Liam knocked on the door of Glinda's home in the city and she answered.

"Captain Jones," she said, as she let him in, which would prove to be a huge mistake.

"We need to talk," he said.

"Of course...I'll make some tea," she said. But when she turned away, he grabbed her from behind and held a cloth doused in chloroform over her nose and mouth. Glinda passed out and the Captain dragged her to his car.

"He's not here," Emma said, as they arrived at his apartment and Emma used her badge to get the building manager to let them in. They scanned the place and David stared at the Captain's wall. He knew Margaret had assured him that she didn't see obsession or mania in him; only the drive and determination to do whatever needed to protect his family. He snapped his attention away from that and looked to the Captain's computer.

"Em…" he called her over and she saw what he was looking at.

"Is that the forecast right now?" she asked. He nodded.

"There's a storm...with conditions just like there was that night we were on the plane," he replied.

"Dark lightning," she uttered.

"He's going to try to fly into it again," David realized, as he looked at his board.

"We need to get to the airfield," Emma said hurriedly, as they rushed out

Glinda moaned incoherently, as she slowly came around. Liam had driven into the airfield, under the guise that he planned to use the simulator again. But he really planned to commandeer a real plane this time for his experiment. With any luck, he'd replicate what had happened that night in the sky...and she was going to help make it happen.

"Captain?" she asked, as she looked around, realizing that she was in the cockpit of a small plane. But he was busy doing pre-flight checks.

"Captain...what are you doing?" she asked.

"There's a storm brewing and I'm going to fly into it to prove my innocence. And you're going to help me do it," he replied simply.

"Captain...I don't know what happened that night!" she insisted.

"No...you just happened to be on the plane and now all our brains sync up, just like in your research. Just a coincidence, right?" he scoffed.

"No…not a coincidence, but not in the way you think. I believe I was on the plane to help us understand what happened to us. But I had nothing to do with whatever happened in the sky that night!" she said.

"We'll see," he said, as he fired up the engines and a message came over the radio.

Emma sped up to the gate and slammed on the breaks, as the gate was closed.

"We need to get in...NYPD," Emma said, flashing her badge.

"Sorry Detective, but you're well out of your jurisdiction," the guard said.

"You don't understand...we have reason to believe that Captain Jones is going to steal a plane," David said.

"The Captain is here...but he's just using the simulator," the guard refuted.

"Then what the hell is his car doing over there when the simulator is over there in the other direction!" David yelled. The guard turned his head and saw that he was right. About that time, they heard the engine of a small private plane fire up.

"We've got a situation!" he called into the radio, as Emma and David got out of the car.

"Please...let me talk to him," David pleaded. The guard hesitated for a moment and then handed the radio to him.

"Captain...it's David Nolan," he called.

"Sorry David...but don't try to talk me out of it. I'm going to clear my name and the doc is going to help me,"

"He's got Glinda…" he realized.

"Holy hell…" Emma muttered.

"Captain...we can prove your innocence, but not like this. This isn't the way," David reasoned.

"Sorry David...maybe you can play the long game in this, but until I clear my name, my life is on hold," he said.

"I know...but I need you on the ground to help prove what happened to...to all of us that night! You're not alone in this!" David called. There was a pause and they were hopefully for a moment. But those hopes were quickly dashed.

"Sorry David...you're the Captain now," Liam said, as the line went dead and the plane taxied down the runway. At that point, the guard took the radio and called the tower for emergency. The tower made a plea with the Captain, but it fell on deaf ears too and soon, they heard the sound of military fighters overhead, as they chased the flight into the air.

"They're going to shoot him down," Emma realized. Despite the guards' protests, David grabbed the radio again and tried to get him to land.

"Oh my God…" Glinda cried, as they lifted off the ground, just after Liam had told David that he was the Captain now.

"Captain...please," Glinda cried, as they were in the sky and approached the incredible storm and the clouds lit up with lightning.

"Captain please...I don't want to die," she pleaded, as the calls for him to turn back went unanswered and she gasped, as she saw the military fighters flanking them.

"We're not dying...see you in 2025," he said, as they disappeared into the clouds.

From the ground, they watched the fighters scramble, as the small charter plane disappeared into the clouds. There was a light and what sounded like an explosion that could be heard and David lowered his head. It appeared to everyone present that they had been shot down. Emma looked at him with a stunned expression and he balled his fists, feeling like he had failed.

They got back in her car and there was a silent ride home to the Nolan house to drop him off. Emma came in with him and Margaret was ready with a hug. They hadn't told her yet, but she could tell something wasn't right by the look on her husband's face. She opened her arms and he relished her embrace. As they finally pulled apart, she cupped his face in her hands and caressed his cheek.

"I tried to stop him...but he wouldn't listen. He's gone," he said.

"He made his choices and it's not your fault," Margaret insisted.

"She's right...unfortunately, he forced Glinda to go with him against her will. She's gone too," Emma said.

"Oh God…" Margaret replied, as she hugged him again. The blonde was a little worried about her brother spiraling like the Captain had. He tended to obsess when there was a problem or puzzle in front of him that he couldn't figure out. And this was the biggest conundrum of all with potential life altering consequences. But she worried a little less with Margaret there to keep him grounded. She allowed him all the room he needed to figure out a problem and possessed all the skill to pull him back or help him refocus when needed. However, this was unlike any other problem than ever before. She hoped her sister-in-law was up to the challenge, because sometimes she wasn't sure she was or David was either. She could already see it wearing on him and only hoped Margaret would keep him from spiraling the way Liam Jones had.

"Oh, this was dropped off for you while you were gone," Margaret said, as she handed a box to her husband. He opened it up and found the Captain's wings inside with a note from Liam.

"I guess Henry's going to get his wings after all," he said, as he went to his son at the table.

"Here," he said.

"For me?" he asked. He nodded.

"From Captain Jones," David said, as he pinned him on his shirt.

"I'm sorry Henry...I don't think I helped the Captain the way I was supposed to," David said.

"But you did," Henry insisted. David's brow furrowed.

"You helped the Captain figure out about the storm that night and then he did the rest," Henry said.

"But Henry...I'm afraid the Captain is gone now," David said. Henry nodded.

"It's okay Dad...you didn't fail the Calling. I don't know if the Captain was supposed to do that...but you did what you were supposed to do and you're the leader now," Henry said, as he hugged him. David was stunned at such faith in him and he swallowed thickly, as he hugged him back fiercely. Margaret put a hand to her heart and Emma smiled, as she put her arm around her, before pressing her head against Margaret's.

"Go upstairs for bed and we'll be there to tuck you in, sweetie," she said.

"I better go and get back to the station for the rest of my shift," Emma said, as they hugged her and Margaret gave her a brown paper bag.

"Leftovers...please eat this and not something out of the vending machine," she pleaded. Emma smiled.

"Will do...thanks," she replied, as she saw the look on her brother's face.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I still can't figure out how they even knew we went to talk to Roger Mencin. I thought maybe Liam was right at first and it might be Glinda, but it clearly wasn't," David replied. That's when Emma's eyes widened.

"No...but I think I clued them in, without knowing it," Emma said.

"What do you mean?" Margaret asked.

"Aurora...she was in my apartment when we were talking about Roger," she realized. David's eyes widened.

"Aurora is the mole," he said.

"But why?" Margaret asked.

"She has a rap sheet...they must have something on her. I'll go pick her up and see what I can get out of her," Emma replied. He sighed, as she left.

Margaret put her arms around him and they went upstairs to tuck the kids in. After they were settled in for the night and they locked up, they retreated to the bedroom, where he watched her from the bed, as she got ready for bed, brushing her wavy raven hair, which now had grown a little past her shoulders. He removed his shirt and noticed she stopped short of finding her night clothes and instead climbed onto the bed with him, in her undergarments.

"I...I feel like I'm going crazy," he admitted.

"You know that I'm the one person you don't have to say that to," she said.

"If I didn't have you...I would go crazy. Liam did...his family wanted nothing to do with him. Flying was all he had," David said.

"But you're not him. You have a family and your work is not all you are," she replied, as he looked at her, taken aback by her beauty, as always.

"You're my husband and I adore you…" she said, choking up at that part.

"I just got you back...and I'm not letting you go. I hate the pressures you'll face as leader of the passengers, but I know there is no one better," she confessed, as she teared up a bit.

"They need you...but you're mine first. I get you first...me and the kids," she said. He caressed her face gently.

"There will never be anyone more important to me than you. And our kids and Emma, our big kid," he promised, as they shared a laugh and then a gentle kiss. Margaret's eyes sparkled with love, as she gazed at him and then kissed him again, this time with more heat. Margaret undid the clasp on her bra and their lips parted, as he watched her discard the offending garment. He gazed at her with desire lidded eyes and the heat rushed through his body. He pulled her into his arms, crushing her against him and kissed her passionately. Her nimble hands pushed his sleep pants down and he lay her beneath him, while ridding her of her underwear. With all clothing gone and only skin between them, they loved passionately and deeply, until they were falling apart together and were soon laying sated together in each other's arms in the afterglow.

It was just a few hours later that Margaret found herself waking up in the middle of the night. She didn't know why she was aware all the sudden, but she felt compelled to check on the kids. She untangled from David and put her robe on, before padding to Olive's room. She peaked in and smiled, finding her daughter asleep. She proceeded to the next room, expecting to find her son the same. But what she found instead was an empty bed and an open window, which was followed by her deafening scream...