7:15 AM AU - Things go a bit differently in the cabin during 7:15 AM. With memories returned, how will this change things?
Welcome to my newest fic. I'm not sure how long this one will be yet, but I will be updating this one bi-weekly on Sunday nights(opposite FYA). Please enjoy and let me know what you think! Also, there is a love scene in this chapter. It's marked and can be skipped if that's not your thing. :)
Thanks to the great reviews and response to this new fic! Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Yep, Regina isn't going to win this one. But it's going to seem like she's winning for a while. Glad you're enjoying it. :)
Grace5231973: Yeah, public opinion is definitely going to be against them. Even though they're awake, it's not going to be easy as you'll find out in this chapter. Glad you're enjoying it! :)
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! :)
Guest: Yes, Snowing and Jefferson will meet.
Number Ten: I know, it hurts, because we know the truth. It's going to hurt for a while since Emma will be slow to come around. :)
Guest 2: Yeah, I like season 1, but didn't like how they handled Snowing in Storybrooke. I never held any of it against them though like some, because they were cursed. Yeah, they're awake, but it will be hard even so since everyone will be against them. It will definitely be interesting how they deal with it and trying to wake Emma up.
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Regina is going to try to keep them apart. It won't work, but it will tough since it will seem like everyone is against them. Yep, there was some hot Snowing lovin'! Yeah, Emma unfortunately doesn't know or believe yet. Yep, young, hot grandparents, lol. Yeah, unfortunately, Kathryn did not take it well, because he's in love with MM. Yep, more Snowing loving, you're welcome. No, the article will not be kind. But they will survive together!
AnonSnowing: Yep, Charming can't pretend to stay with Kathryn. He needs Snow, despite the coming backlash. They will be hated and it will be tough for a while. People love drama. Emma will come around, albeit slowly. Yep, Henry will be on their side. Yep, grandparents and their grandson is being raised by the Evil Queen. That would be hard to swallow. Yeah, Kathryn is angry and doesn't understand that this is for the best yet. It's going to be tough with everyone against them, but they can't help it. They have to be together. Regina will try to keep them apart, but ultimately fail. Yep, Snowing's love with weather the storm coming. Yeah, it should be an interesting twist and yeah, not really cheating. Glad you're enjoying it. :)
Clarity
Chapter 3: Scandal
Waking up alone the next morning was very hard, though the memories of their lovemaking was fresh in her mind. After, he had held her for quite some time and they exchanged tender, loving kisses, before dozing off together for a bit. True to his word, in a way that her Charming always was, he awoke near morning and she reluctantly let him go so he would be gone before Emma got home.
Unfortunately, walking down Main Street that morning, toward the diner was even harder. The looks of disgust and the whispers were hard to take, even as herself. Regina was probably grinning from ear to ear now, because the whole town hated her. She took a deep breath, before walking into the diner and swallowed thickly, as the entire place stopped to stare at her. She walked to the counter and tried not to wince under Granny's stern look.
"I'm sorry...but I'm going to have to ask you to leave," she said. Snow was shocked at that.
"You're...you're refusing me service?" she asked.
"That's right...my business and I can decide who I want to serve and who I don't. So I'll tell you what I told the other cheater. Get out," Granny replied.
"Wait...David isn't staying at the Inn?" she asked.
"Not anymore. I kicked him out," Granny replied. Snow clamped down on her emotions and nodded.
"I see…" she replied, as she walked out of the diner. Ruby gave her grandmother a cold look, grabbed the cup of hot chocolate she had made, and hurried out.
"Mary Margaret!" she called. Snow swallowed her tears and turned, expecting to get an earful. Fortunately, even though Red was still cursed, it seemed that she was the only one unwilling not to judge her.
"Here...on the house. Hot cocoa with cinnamon," she replied. She looked surprised, but then took it.
"Thanks...but why?" Snow asked. Ruby shrugged.
"Staying with someone you don't love just to save a marriage is stupid," she replied.
"The rest of the town doesn't agree," Snow said.
"Who cares and it's pretty obvious David loves you. He told me so this morning," she replied.
"You saw David before he left?" she asked with interest.
"Yeah...he didn't say where he was going to go, but I sneaked him a cocoa and a few muffins," she replied. Snow smiled.
"Thanks Ruby," she said, as a few tears slipped down her cheeks and the brunette hugged her.
"Go find him and be happy," she urged.
"Being with him makes me happier than you know...but the rest of this isn't that simple," she replied. Ruby shrugged.
"This will all blow over," she promised, but Snow wasn't so sure. She knew Regina would find a way to keep fanning the flames so to speak.
"Thanks again Ruby…" she said. She wanted to find David, but school would be starting soon and she had to go to work. She knew he'd be okay, but she was still worried and she would find him the moment work was done with.
Regina smiled, as she looked out her bedroom window that morning. Naturally, she had been furious when she heard David Nolan told Kathryn that he wanted a divorce and that he was in love with Mary Margaret Blanchard. But the backlash from the town at their adultery was a delicious side effect that would certainly spoil their romance. And even if it didn't, she was certain she could find another way to keep them apart. It was going to be a good day.
After a tough day at work with glares of her co-workers blaring down on her, Snow made her way to her car, only to find it vandalized with the word tramp spray painted on it. Instead of driving, she made her way to the Toll bridge in tears. The tears stopped though when she spotted her husband just beyond the bridge in the valley below. She frowned though, as she saw what he was doing and hurried down the ridge.
"David!" she called. He turned and had a smile just for her, as she rushed into his arms. She pulled back and kissed her with wanton passion. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her passionately in return.
"What...what is this?" she asked, as she noticed the tent and the fire.
"Uh well...I sort of got kicked out of the Inn and then I got to work and got fired," he replied.
"What? They fired you for divorcing Kathryn?" she asked in outrage. He shrugged.
"That's not the reason they used, but yeah that's probably why. It's okay though. I used the money I had left and bought a tent and a few supplies. I'll be fine," he assured.
"David...you can't sleep out here!" she cried.
"I've lived in the woods before...we both have," he reminded her.
"No...you're coming home with me," she decided. He winced.
"You know I'd love nothing more...but I don't think Emma would be comfortable with it and the last thing I want to do is come between you two," he replied.
"But David...you're her father," she protested.
"Not right now I'm not...and to her, her father is just some guy that abandoned her as a baby," he said. That reality hit her like a ton of bricks and she burst out in sobs. His eyes widened and he cradled her in his arms.
"Oh no...please don't cry, my darling...I didn't mean to make you cry…" he pleaded. He hated when she cried and hated it even more when he was the one to make her cry.
"It's not you…" she promised.
"It's me…" she sniffed.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"What have I done, Charming? Emma grew up alone...because of me," she sobbed.
"No...you didn't do this to her," he argued.
"I did! I made you take her to the wardrobe and put her through it!" she exclaimed.
"And if you hadn't, she would have been killed. That's what Regina came to do. That's why I was cut down. They were after our baby," he reminded.
"But she doesn't know that!" Snow cried.
"She will…" he promised, as he hugged her tightly.
"Have you eaten anything?" she asked.
"Ruby gave me some muffins and I was going to go catch some game," he replied. She sniffed and wiped her tears away, before taking his hand.
"You're not doing that. Emma is not home yet so we can at least cook and have dinner together. She won't be home until late again," she replied.
"That would be nice, but you do know I can live off game if I have to. We've both done it before," he reminded her again.
"I know, but I don't want you to have to," she replied, as she led him back to the loft with her.
In the week that followed, things did not get any better. The town was still shunning them both, mostly due to the fact that David was seen coming in and out of Mary Margaret's building frequently. He was still sleeping in the woods though, down by the Toll Bridge. Snow hated it, but the part about him being homeless hadn't gotten out yet. That didn't surprise her though. Regina wouldn't want him to garner any sympathy and she had Sidney Glass running scathing editorials about their torrid affair instead. She was sick of it. They were married for God's sake and Regina damn well knew it.
Emma had been quiet around her too; a clear sign that she didn't approve of Mary Margaret continuing to see David Nolan. Her husband kept convincing her that was why he had to continue to keep his distance from her when Emma was around though, but Snow was impatient. She reasoned that if everyone was going to hate her then they should just move in together and ride out the scandal together. Emma would come around or so she hoped. That was why she was now seeing Gold. David was going to be angry with her for going to him, but it was February and the temperature was going to drop below zero that night. And he could be stubborn and angry at her if he wanted to be, but at least he was going to be warm.
"Ah...Miss Blanchard, what a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?" he asked. Snow regarded him with scrutiny. She was about ninety three percent positive that he was awake too and almost as positive that he somehow knew she was too, but as usual, he never revealed all his cards and his poker face was impressive.
"I am here to ask for something on behalf of someone else," she said meekly, hoping to make him believe that she was still Mary Margaret.
"I see and what is it that you need?" he prodded.
"You own the cabin in the woods near the Toll Bridge and I was wondering if you would be willing to rent it to me for a fair price...for a while," she said. She did not like the smirk that spread across his face.
"You want to stay in my cabin?" he asked.
"No...it's for a friend," she answered quickly.
"Ah...a friend. I do like to know who would be staying on my property," he mentioned. She met his eyes, which was not a thing Mary Margaret would ever do.
"You know who," she said. He was silent for a moment.
"Yes...it will be quite cold tonight, even for someone who is used to sleeping in the elements. But tell me...why don't you just take him home with you?" he questioned.
"I want to...but he refuses to let our relationship come between me and Emma," she said quietly.
"Ah…Miss Swan does not approve," he replied in amusement.
"A noble thing that not many men could honor. Tell David he may use the cabin as long as he needs it," Gold said.
"What's the price?" she asked.
"He'll never accept if he knows you'll owe me something for it," he said.
"He's stubborn like that," she conceded.
"Which I can appreciate. This one is free," he said.
"Why?" she questioned.
"That's my business," he replied. She sighed and turned toward the door.
"Thank you," she said, as she walked out, only to run into Emma.
"Hey...can you hold up for a few. I think we need to talk," the blonde said.
"Uh...can it wait until home? There is somewhere I need to go," Mary Margaret said, as she hurried off. Emma sighed and then went inside the shop.
"You called?" she asked.
"Yes…I have something that I need delivered," he replied.
"Do I look like the post office?" she deadpanned. He smirked and handed her a legal envelope.
"They are official documents of the court. They need to be delivered to Mr. Nolan," she said.
"That was one hell of a fast divorce," Emma said in surprise.
"Mr. Nolan did not contest anything and gave everything to Kathryn," Gold replied.
"Well, he's a cheater so he shouldn't, but I have no idea where he's staying," Emma replied.
"Neither of us do...but one person does," he said. Emma realized what he meant and hurried out to follow Mary Margaret, unknowingly, of course. Gold smirked, as she went. He hadn't expected such developments, but as always, he would factor these into his plans, because the end result would be the same. The curse would break and he would find his son.