7:15 AM AU - Things go a bit differently in the cabin during 7:15 AM. With memories returned, how will this change things?
Thanks for the amazing response to this story. It's a lot of fun. I'm glad everyone is enjoying the twists and turns. Season 1 can be very fun to play with. Enjoy this latest and keep reviewing! Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Yeah, it's a lot for Emma. Yeah, Neal is slowly coming to terms with the fact that he can maybe forgive his father soon. As for Regina, she may be redeemed...but she may not in this one. We shall see. :)
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Sammii16: You're welcome!
Grace5231973: I hope he can too. Emma is being really stubborn here. But we know Neal will bug the crap out of her until she admits it's all true. ;)
Number Ten: Yep, that's the real unknown here. What happens during this time before Emma finally breaks the curse. But yeah, Snow and David being awake helps in some respects. It's a struggle for sure. Yeah, I feel bad for Emma too, even though we're all frustrated with her as well. Yeah, even admitting that MM's pain was real was a huge step. Glad you're enjoying!
Sexystarwarslover: Yeah, it makes us all a little nervous. He doesn't have the whole picture, just the outcome, so there's not telling what will happen in the meantime. Yep, they never really dealt with learning about what Blue and Geppetto did so time to revisit. Yeah, even Sidney is bored with the fake/same stories. But he won't defy Regina. We get more information on who this woman might be in this chapter. No, Geppetto did not think it through. I know, hearing Mary Margaret go through all that they had planned was heartbreaking. Yeah, Emma is just in denial. She's afraid what it means if it's all true. Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it! :)
AnonSnowing: Yeah, they didn't really get a chance to deal with it when they were in New York, because Regina interrupted them. But I knew it was time to swing back to it so Mary Margaret could have this very important breakdown. It was hard, but it will become cathartic for Snow in the long run. I don't really blame August either. I blame Blue and Geppetto for screwing him over. They really are all victims, except Rumple and Regina. I know, her denial is frustrating for sure. Yeah, cognitive dissonance can be a bitch. Hard to break through it. Yeah, it will probably take a dramatic event to shake her truly awake. Nope, not even the curse could destroy Snowing's love. Glad you're enjoying it :)
Clarity
Chapter 17: Mirror, Mirror
David gently sat on the edge of the bed beside her, as she cried into her pillow. Gently, he rubbed her back in a soothing manner and her hand sought his free hand and they laced their fingers together.
"I'm so naïve," she lamented, as she sniffed and looked up at him.
"No...don't mistake your hopeful nature for naivete," he admonished. She rubbed her face free of the tears and sat up beside him.
"In those moments, as the curse was on the brink and I held you in my arms...I held onto the hope that you'd survive and that Emma would return to us," Snow said.
"And she did...you were right," he implored.
"But I didn't for a second have time to consider what kind of life she would have had when she did," she replied. He shook his head.
"There was no way we could have known," he reasoned.
"Maybe not...but we sent her into this world alone," she said.
"Because we were lied to. And you know it was this or she might not have made it all. Regina's men cut me down that night and had the same thing in mind for her. They were ruthless, Snow...they would have thought nothing of killing her," he replied.
"I know...I just wish she could see that," Snow said.
"She will...she just needs more time," he promised.
"What if she never comes around?" Snow asked. He shook his head.
"Gold said that he saw that she breaks the curse. He just doesn't know when or how. But she does," he reminded her. But Snow shook her head.
"But Charming...what if she does and she decides she still doesn't want anything to do with us? Breaking the curse helps the rest of the town wake up, but it doesn't help Emma," she said and he deflated a little. It was a really good point.
"I'm her mother...and I don't know how to comfort her or help her. I'm her mother and I can't comfort my own daughter!" she cried and he pulled her into his arms, as she sobbed against his chest. He gently rocked her and kissed her hair, as he held her and mourned for all they had lost with her.
"Yes Madam Mayor...I'll make sure the story is done for the morning edition. When I'm done, the entire town will be appalled by what Emma Swan and Neal Cassidy are doing. Trying to take your son away from you will not stand," he promised, as hung up the phone and sat down to work again. Finishing the hit piece on David Nolan and Mary Margaret Blanchard, as well as one on Emma Swan and Neal Cassidy was a tall order. Normally, he could work through the night, but with the Miner's Day celebration that evening, he had an obligation to attend and cover that as well. He sighed and stood up, happening to catch his reflection in the mirror. He didn't consider himself a vain man, but he had always been drawn to mirrors and could never really explain why. After a few seconds of staring, he broke out of the trance and continued to the kitchenette in his office to make more coffee. It was going to be a long afternoon, followed by a very long evening.
Many Years Ago
The newly coronated Queen Eva glowed radiantly, as most newly expectant mothers did. She exited the carriage, as the footman opened the door and she gazed at her parent's magnificent castle. She only wished they were still alive so they could soon meet their grandchild. But now, her home Kingdom was ruled by her beloved sister, Queen Narcissa.
Growing up, they had both been what most would expect. Privileged and vain, but being Queen had humbled Eva greatly since her days as a bratty princess. She had learned much humility as Queen and saw that it was not her right to rule over her people; but a privilege to do so. As a result, the people in her husband's Kingdom had taken to her nicely and she to them. Their humbleness and kindness had rubbed off on her and she showed them the same in return.
Her selfish ways were behind her and now that she was with child, she could barely contain her joy. She had already promised herself that she would make sure to raise her child to respect others, no matter royal or otherwise and instill these newly learned values in her from the beginning.
Unfortunately, her older sister had not learned the same lessons that Eva had yet. She loved Narcissa, but she worried about her vanity and selfishness. It did not make a good ruler and her Kingdom was showing the signs.
"Narcissa?" Eva called, as she entered her sister's private sitting room and wasn't surprised to see her primping in front of the mirror, as usual. She gasped and turned to face her.
"Eva!" she called with excitement, as they embraced and once they pulled back, the blonde looked up and down.
"Look at you...you're glowing," she complimented. Eva grinned from ear to ear.
"Thank you...I'm so happy," she said.
"I'm so glad and I cannot wait to be an Aunt to this little bundle of joy," she gushed. Eva smiled.
"Me too...but what about you? I know you've had many suitors approach you. Have you chosen one? This could be you then," Eva replied. Narcissa brushed that off though.
"Oh…I don't know, none of them quite measure up and I'm not sure I could do this to my figure," Narcissa said, indicating her baby bump.
"Oh trust me, once you are with child, you won't care," Eva assured her. But she knew her sister's vanity was often her greatest enemy and she worried that, in the end, it would lead her to being alone and unhappy.
"Perhaps...but for now, why don't you make your way to the dining room and I'll join you shortly. The kitchen staff has prepared all your favorites and I'm sure you're famished now that you're eating for two," Narcissa said. She smiled.
"I am...and this little one can't seem to get enough cinnamon," Eva mentioned.
"Ahh cinnamon, if I recall, you've always been fond of it as well," Narcissa said.
"Very true," Eva replied.
"So...did your fairy friend tell you what you're having? Will it be a Prince or a Princess?" Narcissa asked.
"Well…I decided that we should be surprised, but I have a feeling it's a little girl," Eva replied.
"Oh yes...a little Princess to dress up and spoil. I know she'll be the most beautiful Princess in all the realm, well, second most beautiful," Narcissa said, indicating herself as the first. Eva smiled.
"She will...I'll see you downstairs. Don't take too long primping. You look beautiful, as always," Eva assured her. Narcissa smiled and stepped into her chamber where her personal mirror sat.
When she was very young, her parents presented her with an enchanted looking glass and since that time, she had asked the mirror one question everyday. And everyday, she received the same answer.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall...who is the fairest of all?" Narcissa asked and watched as the gray, mask-like face appeared before her.
"My Queen...you are the fairest, most beautiful woman in all the lands," the mirror answered. Narcissa smiled and fluffed her blonde hair, before turning away, intending to join her sister downstairs. But the mirror spoke again.
"At least for now," the mirror stated. Her smile melted into a frown and she turned back to the mirror.
"For now? What do you mean, mirror?" she asked.
"My Queen, you are indeed the fairest in all the lands, but there will soon be another that will someday hold that title," the mirror answered.
"Who? Who is this person!?" she demanded to know.
"My Queen...she is not born yet, but it will be your niece," the mirror revealed.
"My sister will have a girl?" she asked.
"Yes, My Queen and I foresee she will be so fair that many will be stunned by her beauty upon first glance," the mirror answered.
"She will steal my place?" Narcissa squeaked, as she was almost brought to tears by this.
"She will be kind, loving, and generous. She will be fierce in heart and spirit. She will have hair black as ebony, lips as red as a rose...and skin white as snow…" the mirror foretold.
"No! I am the fairest! I must remain the fairest!" Narcissa cried, as she stormed out of her chamber and what she must do became very clear. Her sister could not have that child…
"Are you sure about this? We don't have to go," David said, as he helped her put her coat on. They had grieved together for a while for all they had lost and then after they had fallen asleep for about an hour, they awoke and proceeded to shower and clean up. That evening was the Miner's Day celebration in the town square and they had planned to go together, but that was before the hard day they had experienced.
"I know...but I actually want to, because I finally have someone to go with. As you can imagine, they were pretty lonely in the past and always the same. This year will actually be different," she replied, as she put her arms around his neck. He smiled and kissed her tenderly.
"If you're sure...then we'll go," he said, as he grabbed his jacket. They joined hands and began the walk toward the town square.
"So...what is the point of this thing?" he asked. She snickered and looked at him.
"It's sort of like a festival of sorts to celebrate Storybrooke's founding by...miners," she explained.
"But it wasn't…" he replied.
"I know...I guess it's part of the curse. I'm not really sure why and it's probably going to be boring," she said.
"Any evening with you is wonderful," he replied, as they shared a smile.
"I just wish I could have made all this better for you...for us," he said.
"David...none of this is your fault," she replied.
"I know, but before me, at least you had Emma as a friend and I hate that I might have ruined that," he said. But she shook her head and they stopped on the corner.
"You didn't...you're my husband. You're the love of my life and father of our daughter," she said.
"I never considered what she might face in this world when we put her through the wardrobe. But I know that, as much hardship as she endured, it was still her best chance," she continued.
"It was...we did the right thing," he assured her.
"Then we have to hope that she sees that eventually. I'm going to have hope," she said. He smiled and kissed her passionately.
"Me too...and I know she's going to come around," he promised, as he hugged her tightly.
"Come on...let's get a cocoa and then you can show me what this festival is all about," he suggested, as she hooked her hand on his elbow and they made their way toward the square for the celebration.
At the town line, a luxury sedan crossed into Storybrooke, carrying a blonde woman and she slowed her car as she reached town proper. She parked along Main Street and stepped out. As usual, she was dressed to the nines in an expensive pantsuit, complete with an equally high end winter coat. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a twist with no hair out of place and her makeup was pristine. It was easy to tell by her appearance that how she looked was very important to her.
She looked around and was immediately unimpressed. This was definitely not New York and the Inn would be a far cry from her Manhattan penthouse apartment. Her stiletto heels tapped the pavement, as she made her way toward town square and she smirked. It seemed they were having a celebration and she was eager to join.