Chapter 3

Emma was lying in bed reading when she heard Mary Margaret come inside. "Emma, I'm home!"

"Upstairs." Emma replied.

She heard Mary Margaret coming up the stairs, so she put her book down and sat up. "Hey sweetie. What are you reading?" She asked.

Emma shrugged. "It's some storybook that I found downstairs. It's… interesting."

"Interesting?" Mary Margaret questioned.

Emma nodded. "Yeah. Come on." Emma scooted over and Mary Margaret sat next to her. "Snow White is a total badass!" She exclaimed.

"Emma!" Mary Margaret scolded.

She rolled her eyes. "She is. Look. She literally hit prince charming in the face… with a rock." Mary Margaret chuckled. "What?"

"Nothing… it's just… David has a scar on his chin… it's like it's identical to that one." She pointed out.

Emma raised an eyebrow. "David? When did he stop being sheriff Nolan?" Emma questioned. Mary Margaret blushed. "And- oh- how observant you must be to notice a small scar on his chin." Emma prodded, causing Mary Margaret's blushing to increase. Emma laughed.

XXX

After school the next day, Emma walked to the sheriff's station to see David. "Hi sheriff Nolan!"

"Hello Emma." He greeted. "Come by to trick your way into the internship again?" He asked.

Emma smirked. "Ha ha. Hilarious." She deadpanned. "I actually came by to ask you about something… someone."

"Yeah?"

Emma nodded. "Mary Margaret." She said. "I think you should ask her out." She told him. "You're both single people. I'm sure it'll work out." She said. "What do you say sheriff?" She asked, noticing his slight blush. "Please?" She asked giving him puppy dog eyes that- according to Neal- she excels at. "You know you like her."

"Fine." He relented.

Emma jumped up. "Yes!... I mean… that's great sheriff Nolan." He chuckled at her reaction. "Well, I have to get to work! See you later sheriff!"

XXX

"Mary Margaret! Wait up!" David called as she was making her way to her car after work- the same day that Emma came to see him.

She turned around and saw the sheriff jogging up to her. "David?"

"I need to ask you a question." He told her. Mary Margaret began twirling the ring on her finger- a nervous habit of hers- waiting for him to continue. "I… uh..." He chuckled nervously. "Do you want to… um," he sighed. "Have dinner with me?" He said quickly as to not to stutter from nervousness.

Mary Margaret smiled, blushing. "I'd… love that David." She told him. "When and where?"

"Uh… well, I'm afraid the only restaurant in town is Granny's. How does a picnic on the toll bridge tonight sound?"

Her smile brightened. "I think it sounds lovely. I'd have to check with Emma though." She said.

He nodded. "I'll pick you at 7." David said and Mary Margaret smiled.

XXX

Mary Margaret was finally ready and David was at her loft at 7 o'clock sharp. She opened the door and smiled at him. "Hi David."

"Hey." He said, smiling. "You ready?" She nodded. He held out his arm and she took it with pleasure.

He walked her out to his truck and opened the passenger door for her. "You're such a gentleman." She complimented.

They've been at the toll bridge for about an hour now. They ate their food already. They've just been talking and making jokes, laughing, having a good time. "So, Mary Margaret, I have a confession to make."

"Okay..."

He laughed. "Emma actually came to see me today after school."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"She's actually the reason I finally got the nerve to ask you out." He admitted. "She has some killer puppy dog eyes."

She laughed. "You know," she started. "I'm actually not surprised." David raised an eyebrow. "She was teasing me last night… about you." She admitted to him.

"Really?" He asked with a glint in his eye.

She laughed. "Your scar." She reached up and gently touched his scar. "Emma was reading this storybook."

"Storybook?" He asked.

She laughed. "She found it lying around the house. Anyways, this guy- Prince Charming- he had the exact same scar. Emma found my observancy hilarious."

"I am pretty memorable." He joked.

She laughed. "How Charming." She said playfully. David stood up and held out his hand, which Mary Margaret took gladly.

"I'd better get you home." They walked back to his truck, hand-in-hand. David drove her back to her loft and walked with her up the stairs until they were outside her left. "I suppose this is where we part."

"I had a really great time tonight David."

He smiled. "Me too. Um, maybe we could uh… do it again?"

She nodded. "I'd like that. You have my number, right?" He nodded. "Just call me… or text me."

"Will do." He subtly stepped closer to her. He looked down at her and she looked up at him, into his bright blue eyes. He stroked some of her short locks out of her face. "You're beautiful." He breathed out. He leaned down kissed her, she returned it gladly. "Goodbye Mary Margaret. I'll see you… when I see you I suppose."

"Goodbye David." She watched as he went down the stairs, then turned around and entered the loft, sighing happily.

When Emma heard Mary Margaret come inside, she bounced down the stairs. "How'd it go?"

"It was great Emma. Thank you."

Emma smiled. "Whatever for?" She asked innocently.

Mary Margaret mirrored her smile. "You know what for Em." She told her foster daughter. "By the way, he told me about your killer puppy dog eyes."

Emma laughed. "I've always been great with those." Emma admitted. "It got me a long way when I was in some of my first homes."

XXX

Emma was leaving work when Neal approached her. "Emma. We need to talk." He told her when she stepped outside. "I gave you space, but we need to talk and you know we do."

"We did talk Neal. I told you I was pregnant, that's all you need to know. I'm keeping it. I'm not gonna ask you for anything. I don't need anything from you."

He sighed. "Emma, please."

"I have to get home. Mary Margaret's having David over for dinner. I don't want to be late."

He groaned. "Then we have other things to talk about." He said. "I'll walk you home."

"No! You're not gonna walk me home Neal! You're gonna stay away from me!" She placed a hand on her belly. "From us!" Emma could see that Neal was about to say something else. "I could have you arrested." She whispered. "There's still a warrant out for your arrest. Stay away from me and my f-... stay away from me and Mary Margaret."

Emma walked home in peace and smiled when she saw how happy her foster mother was, Emma even found herself staring at her in awe.

"What?" Mary Margaret asked as she was getting things ready before David's arrival.

Emma shrugged. "Nothing. You just look so… happy." She said. "It makes me glad."

Mary Margaret smiled. "I am happy, and you play a very large role in that Em." Mary Margaret told her, causing Emma to smile.

Then their moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. "I got it Mare." Emma said jumping up and heading to the door. She opened it and was met with David's charming smile. "Hey sheriff Nolan."

"Please Emma, I think it's high-time you start calling me David."

Emma smiled at him. "Okay. Hello David."

XXX

Unbeknownst to Emma, Neal Cassidy left Storybrooke and drove down to Phoenix to turn himself in for the watches, but not before leaving Emma a goodbye letter.

XXX

Mary Margaret came inside after checking the mail. "Emma, you have a letter."

Emma looked up from the storybook. "That's weird." She went over and grabbed the letter from Mary Margaret and sat back in her position on the couch in front of the fireplace. Mary Margaret went and sat next to her.

Dear Ems,

I thought about what you said. I'm gonna pay for my crimes, but when I get out, I'll be there for you and our child. I will. I'll fight for you. If my father asks you about me, please just tell him I'll be back one day. You will always be in my heart. One day, if you'll let me, we will find our Tallahassee. I know you don't trust me anymore and you're probably angry at me. With good reasoning, of course. Ems, always remember, I love you. I'll see you when I see you.

~Neal

Emma was angry. She was pissed. She crumbled the letter up and through it in the fireplace.

"Em? What's wrong? Who was it from?" Mary Margaret asked worriedly.

She shook her head. "I-I need some air. Do you mind if I go on a walk? I'll be home soon. I just need some space."

"Sure, just… don't be gone too long sweetie." Emma nodded and practically ran out of the house leaving her phone. "Emma, don't forgot your..." She started, but Emma was already gone. "Phone." She finished.

Emma ran out of the loft and didn't stop running until she got to the ocean, she sat on a bench and just began crying. She wasn't sure why, she told him to leave, she told him she didn't want him near her or their child, but it still hurt that he actually left. She didn't even realize how long she had been gone, but at some point, she cried herself to sleep on that bench.

XXX

Emma had ran out an hour ago and Mary Margaret was starting to get worried… really worried, it was cold outside and Emma didn't take a jacket. She decided to call David.

"David! I know it's starting to get late, but I'm worried about Emma."

"Slow down Mare. Tell me what happened."

Mary Margaret took a deep breath. "She got a letter in the mail today- but we didn't check it until tonight because of work- anyways, when she read it she asked if she could take a walk, get some fresh air, she said she wouldn't be gone long. It's been an hour David. It's cold outside and she didn't take a jacket. I'm worried."

"It's gonna be okay." She heard the jingling of keys in the background. "I'm gonna go out and look for her, you should stay home in case she shows up there."

Mary Margaret nodded, then realized that he couldn't see her. "Yeah… okay, I can do that."

"Don't worry, she probably just lost track of time. I'll call or text you with an update soon. I'll see you in a while Mare. Bye."

"Bye." She ended the call.

"You're overreacting Mary Margaret." She told herself. "Take a breather. Just relax. She's fine."

XXX

David had to have been driving around for half an hour before he spotted the lump on the bench at ocean's view. He jogged up to the 'lump' and let out a sigh of relief when he saw it was Emma.

He shook her gently and her eyes began to flutter open. "David?" She questioned, then began to shiver.

David immediately took his jacket off and placed it on Emma. "Your moth- I mean Mary Margaret is worried sick."

Emma sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"

He pulled out his phone and saw the time. "It's 10:30."

Emma grimaced. "I left at around 8:30" She sighed. "She's probably having a heart attack by now."

"Yeah, she called me a 9:45 freaking out because you left without a jacket and it's cold out."

She groaned. "It was sort of a spur of the moment thing. I just had all these emotions and stuff. I guess I fell asleep." She sighed, then chuckled. "She's going to smother me." She looked up at David. "Can you text her and let her know that I'm alive."

He chuckled and shot Mary Margaret a text. Found her, she's safe. She fell asleep on a bench at ocean's view. She'll be home in no time. "Done. Now let's get you to-" He was cut off by his phone ringing and he couldn't help but chuckle. "It's for you."

Emma grimaced, but took the phone and answered it. "Hey Mare." Emma said casually.

"Emma! I've worried sick! I was going out of my mind! You said you wouldn't be gone long."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I guess I just dozed off. I'm okay now though. I'll explain a bit about the letter when I get home."

"Are you sure you're okay? Are you still cold?"

Emma smiled. "I have David's jacket on. I'm fine."

Mary Margaret sighed. "He's so sweet."

Emma smiled and glanced up at David. "Yes Mare. He is so sweet."

Mary Margaret could hear David's chuckle on the line, but she ignored it. "I'm never letting you out of my sight again. Like ever. Barring school and work, but I know your teachers and Granny's your boss, so I'm covered there."

Emma laughed. "Okay, okay. I get it. I'll be on 24/7 surveillance. I'm gonna hang up now so we can actually make it to the truck."

"You're still standing out in the cold?! I'll hang up when you're at least in the truck."

Emma and David walked over to the truck and David- of course- opened and closed the door for her. "Okay, we're in the truck now. Bye Mare. Love you."

Mary Margaret smiled widely. "I love you too Emma." She said and Emma could hear the grin on her face, then she ended the call.

It was only after Emma handed David his phone that she realized that she actually used the 'L' word with Mary Margaret, but she- surprisingly enough- didn't mind it.

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