7:15 AM AU - Things go a bit differently in the cabin during 7:15 AM. With memories returned, how will this change things?
Face Claim for Narcissa: Eileen Davidson
Face Claims for the three good fairies:
Flora: Maggie Smith
Fauna: Linsey Godfrey
Merryweather: Jackee Harry
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: Yep, Murder most foul indeed. Yep, Solana Storm. A curse name obviously and you'll probably be able to guess in this chapter. It's not Elsa though. Glad you're enjoying it!
Jennifer Baratta: It's a curse name. I'm sure you'll be able to guess who it is after this chapter. Glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: I think this chapter will definitely give it away who Solana is. Yes, I hope they find certain patients in the basement too. Yeah, looks like Emma is about to be framed, but we know Neal nor her parents will buy it. Glad you're enjoying. :)
Randa180: Yep, you'd be right!
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Mary Margaret has a new friend and hopefully, they'll both put Nurse Ratched in her place. Yep, things are about to get dicey. Yeah, Emma doesn't want to think about it, but his height gave him away. Yeah, that was a brutal ending, even for Tamara. Yep, Regina is lying, of course. Yeah, Snow and David know she didn't do it. Yeah, that was a dig at baby Snow. Narcissa is definitely pure evil. I like Solana too and you'll probably be able to guess who she is in this chapter. Glad you're enjoying!
AnonSnowing: Yeah, she wanted to ignore it, but realized that he was definitely a dwarf. Yep, Ms. Blake is really suspicious. Yep, she tricked Emma into touching that knife and they're going to lie. It is sad that Narcissa is this way. She could have had a family. Yep, I think we know that David will never believe that Emma did this. Nurse Ratched is awful. I hope they find Belle down there too. Yep, she is! You guessed it! You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Clarity
Chapter 29: Framed
"I'm glad you suggested we get coffee elsewhere. I'm not sure what the hospital has can be called coffee...at least not real coffee," Snow said, as they arrived at a small bakery.
"Mmmhmm...that sludge isn't fit for consumption, but this place has great coffee and tasty baked goods," Solana said, as she opened the door.
"If only everything wasn't pink," she complained. Snow smiled.
"You don't like pink?" the raven haired beauty asked.
"I don't know...there's just something about it. Not that it would matter on you, honey. You'd make any color look good," she said. Snow smiled shyly.
"Thanks," she said, as they noticed an older woman behind the counter in a pink apron.
"Welcome to Rise and Shine bakery...what can I get for you today?" she asked. Snow noticed her name tag said Rose.
"Cappuccino for me and a couple of those cinnamon rolls for us both and whatever she wants for her drink, on me," Solana said.
"Hot cocoa with cinnamon," Snow said.
"Coming right up," Rose replied, as they found a table.
"So...tell me what you're doing to fight to get your job at the school back," Solana replied.
"Oh…I don't think that's possible. Regina is on the school board, so she'd never let them reinstate me, even if I could convince them," Snow said.
"What if it wasn't her decision?" Solana asked.
"What do you mean?" Snow questioned.
"I mean that I'm a fantastic attorney and if you took her to court, we could sue," Solana replied.
"Oh...you're an attorney?" Snow asked.
"Mmmhmm...a litigator, which makes sense since I love to argue," she joked. Snow smiled.
"That's a very kind offer, but money is pretty tight and I'm not sure David and I can afford that right now," she replied.
"Oh no honey...I'd be taking this one on pro-bono. What's been done to you is an injustice and the Mayor can't keep getting away with running this town like she's Queen or something," Solana replied.
"You want to do it for free?" Snow asked in disbelief.
"Mmhmm…" she replied.
"Why? You barely know me," Snow said.
"Honey...my tendency to tie one on almost landed me in a rubber room. You saved me from that and I'd like to repay the favor," she said. Snow thought for a moment.
"Do you think I have a good shot?" she asked.
"I think you have an excellent shot with me representing you," Solana replied.
"Well...then I guess I accept," Snow said.
"Excellent…I'll get to work on the filing later today and then we can meet to go over everything," she said.
"Thank you...it would be wonderful to teach again," Snow replied, as they sipped their coffee and ate the sweets they had ordered, before Snow went back to the hospital for the rest of her shift.
David slid the jail cell closed, as he put Leroy in the cell. It was a daily occurrence at this point and he couldn't wait until the curse was broken and all the façade was done. Grumpy had been known to throw a few back, but not chronically like his cursed self seemed to.
"Thanks for waiting…" David told Neal, as he sat down at his desk, where Neal agreed to wait while he dragged Leroy out of the Rabbit Hole.
"No worries…" Neal replied, as he prepared to conduct the interview.
"Who is he really?" Neal asked, as he nodded toward the man in the cell.
"Back in our land...Grumpy and head of our Royal Guard, believe it or not," David replied.
"So the dwarves...they're all real too?" Neal asked.
"Yes...they're real too," David replied.
"Now…I just need to ask you a few questions. When was the last time you saw Tamara?" he questioned.
"Just a few hours before she died. She said she was leaving town and I thought she was already gone," Neal answered.
"According to Ms. Blake, she changed her mind and decided to stay. She even took a job offer," David said.
"Which makes no sense," Neal replied.
"Why do you say that?" David asked.
"Because Tamara loves New York and has an amazing job that pays really well. It would take her a lot to leave New York and some job in a dress store wasn't going to do it," Neal replied.
"Not even for you?" David asked curiously.
"Certainly not for me. A year ago, she got a job offer in Los Angeles and turned it down. She said that it would have to be twice the money to get her to leave New York. Trust me, she wasn't leaving New York for this town," Neal replied. David nodded.
"Okay...and you know I have to ask this. But where were you last night between eight pm and ten pm?" he asked.
"Dad and I had dinner at the diner and then we went home. I browsed the housing listings since it looks like I'll be sticking around and want my own place eventually. Dad can vouch that I was home all night," Neal replied.
"Some might argue that he would lie even if you weren't," David argued. Neal smirked.
"And they wouldn't be wrong, but in this case, he doesn't need to lie," Neal said. David nodded and took down the information.
"I think that's it and we won't know any more until we get the forensics back on the knife. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for your loss," David said. Neal shrugged.
"Thanks...me too. But I know now that Tamara and I were just going through the motions," he said.
"Why do you say that?" David asked.
"Because even though she spoke of family, I never met them or even knew their names. It's a little weird that I never cared or bothered to find out. I should be calling her family, but I don't even know where to start," Neal replied.
"Sounds like she wasn't very forthcoming. That seems like information she would have volunteered," David mentioned
"You would think. Now I wonder what else I didn't know about," Neal reflected. David nodded.
"Secrets are never good in a relationship," he said.
"Yeah I know...that's why I would have had to tell her the truth about this place. I doubt that would have gone over well. I guess it's for the best. Just wish she didn't have to die," Neal replied.
"We'll find out who did it," David assured him.
"Thanks," Neal replied, as he got up to leave, while David went about finishing the report for Emma.
Many Years Ago
"There, my sweet little Snow...sweet dreams, my love," Eva said, as she put her six month old daughter down in her crib.
"She is such a fair beauty," Merryweather gushed. In the last few months, Eva had become good friends with the three good fairies. But especially Merryweather.
"Having you here after what happened with my sister has been such a blessing. I had such high hopes that Narcissa would adore Snow too and be an Aunt to her. But deep down, I think I knew that Narcissa would only ever love herself," Eva said wistfully.
"Uh huh...sorry to say, but that one is true to her name," Merryweather said, as smiled down at Snow.
"Merryweather…I know that you're a fairy and you're supposed to keep your involvement with the human world to a limit, but I would love for you to be Snow's honorary Aunt," Eva said. Merryweather looked surprised and then beamed a smile.
"Oh honey...I would love that," Merryweather said, as they continued to look over the baby, unaware of Reul Ghorm's glare upon them.
After finishing her shift, Snow made her way to the station to see if David was done yet for the day. It was all over town by now that there was a body found in the dress shop that morning and questions and rumors were already swirling around town. Naturally, she was curious if her husband had any idea who had done it yet. When she walked in though, she saw and heard a very tense scene. And the desperate and broken look on her husband's face made a feeling of dread knot in her stomach.
Moments earlier
Just as Neal made his way to the exit, he ran into Emma, almost literally.
"Hey…" he said.
"Hey…" she replied.
"David took my statement so we should be good there," he mentioned. She nodded.
"Thanks for coming in…" she replied, as she was suddenly thankful that someone else was coming into the station to interrupt their awkward exchange. But she soon wouldn't be.
"Good...you're here. The forensics have come back on the knife and our diligent analyst has his findings ready," Regina said, as this got David's attention too.
"Fine...but why are you here?" Emma asked. Regina smirked.
"I'm the Mayor...and he called me to inform me that he was done. I guess he decided that I should know," Regina replied smugly.
"This a police matter," Emma said, as she swiped the file from him and Regina's smirk widened, as she watched the blonde read it.
"Emma...what is it?" Neal asked.
"The fingerprints on the knife...are mine," Emma replied.
"What?" David asked sharply, as his hackles went up immediately and dread knotted in his stomach. Regina's smug demeanor made it clear that she had something to do with this.
"Yes...your prints are on the knife, Sheriff. Care to explain?" Regina asked.
"Actually yes...this can be explained," Emma replied.
"Do tell," the Mayor said.
"I was at Ms. Blake's shop last night. She offered me food from her spread and I used the knife to help myself to some of it. This proves nothing," Emma replied.
"Except that we have several witnesses willing to come forward and testify that they witnessed a heated shouting match between you and the deceased, in the dress shop, just hours before her death," Regina said.
"Hold on...that's still circumstantial. Emma explained why her prints are on the knife and it's clear to me that whoever did use that knife to stab Tamara was probably wearing gloves," David argued.
"Well, it's not clear to me...arrest her, Deputy," Regina ordered.
"No," David refuted. Regina smirked.
"Fine...then I'll replace you with someone that will. Arrest her or you're fired," she ordered. David glared at her and his jaw clenched in anger. Now he saw this whole thing perfectly clear. The entire thing was a set up and Emma was being framed. It was right from Regina's tried and true playbook. She had once framed Snow for her own father's murder and now she was framing their daughter for another murder.
"Arrest Emma Swan for murder right now, Deputy Nolan...or you will be replaced with someone who will," Regina warned.
"What?" Snow squeaked, as she came inside and overheard the last line uttered by Regina.
"Oh, how nice of you to join us, Miss Blanchard. You're just in time to see Sheriff Swan be arrested for murder by your boyfriend. Unless he defies me again and then he'll be out of a job too," she goaded, enjoying every single moment of twisting this knife in them both.
"This is impossible...Emma didn't kill anyone," Snow said defensively, as she rushed to their sides.
"The forensics say otherwise. Her prints are all over the knife found in Tamara's chest," Regina hissed.
"And I explained that!" Emma cried.
"You had an argument with her and when you found out she was going to stick around, you came back later that night and took care of her. You couldn't have her trying to get back with Neal, because you want him back," Regina said.
"None of that is true!" Neal cried.
"Tamara and I were over! She had a life and a good job in New York, so her sticking around here makes no sense!" he added.
"That's not what Ms. Blake said," Regina pointed out.
"Well, then she's lying! I knew Tamara better than her and there was no way she'd stay here, certainly not for a job in some uppity dress store," Neal spat angrily.
"He's right and Emma was home with us last night," David pointed out.
"That's right...I got to the loft around ten last night," Emma replied.
"And our victim died before that. Where were you before that, Ms. Swan?" Regina asked.
"I was doing my job! I was running patrol," Emma replied.
"Which can't really be verified by anyone," Regina said, as she looked at Snow and David. She could see the panic behind their eyes and relished it.
"This is your final chance, Deputy...arrest Emma Swan for murder or you're fired and I'll bring in someone who will," Regina said, as Sidney Glass arrived.
"I'm ready to assume the position if needed, Madam Mayor," he said. Emma knew that if Glass took over, then she didn't have a chance. But if David was still running things...then maybe they could still prove it.
"David...you have to do it," she whispered.
"What?" he exclaimed.
"If you don't, he will and you won't have access to the department resources to prove my innocence," she whispered to them.
"But Emma...you didn't do this. You're being framed," Snow cried. Emma allowed herself a small smile, as she looked at them.
"You really believe that? You believe I didn't do this?" she asked.
"Of course...it's not even a question," David replied and a tear slipped down Emma's cheek.
"Then I need you to prove my innocence," she said, as she sniffed.
"If the book is right...then you've been saving me since the night I was born and I need you to do it again," she added, as their eyes met and they were both shocked when her hand brushed his. She saw a flash in her mind. It was him, sword in hand, cradling a baby in his arm, taking wound after wound, while she remained unharmed.
"Last chance, Deputy," Regina warned. He sobered and nodded his head.
"Emma Swan...you're under arrest for the suspected murder of Tamara…" he said, trailing off, as he realized he had no idea what her last name was.
"Sloan...Tamara Sloan," Neal croaked.
"For the suspected murder of Tamara Sloane," David finished, as he led her to one of the cells and as he locked her away, Snow collapsed sobbing in his arms...