This chapter was so much easier to write then last chapter. Hence why you're getting it so quickly. I did not realize how very little actually happens in this episode until I started writing it. God, it's boring. I'm going to skip over huge chunks of it because it's boring. As previously stated. Well, the episode wasn't boring- just most of the interesting stuff happened in the flashbacks, which does nothing for my story. I've already started combining some elements of the later episodes to these in the last chapter, and plan to continue to do so. We're speeding up the timeline here, people, cuz I want to get to the fun stuff. So here we have the conclusion of the episode 7:15 AM and a bit of the next episode: Fruit of the Poisonous Tree along with What Happened to Frederick. Because I can.
February 3, 2012 Continued
"So nothing, huh?" Ada asked Emma who, frustrated, was unable to stop herself from hitting the top of the Sheriff station's ancient computer.
"Nothing under August W. Booth, August Booth, August Wayne Booth, Wayne Booth, Wayne A. Booth," Emma gave a frustrated sigh. "It might be a penname for all I know."
Ada sighed, "Or, alternately, there's nothing to find."
"I keep bumping into this guy," Emma huffed, "It's starting to annoy me."
"It's a small town filled with fairytale characters. I'm not sure you could avoid him if you tried," Ada placated.
"How'd it go with the nuns?"
"Well, after getting suckered into helping with the upcoming Miner's Day festival," Ada grimaced, "I think Henry's right. Besides, how many small towns even have nunneries? That's weird enough on it's own."
Emma sighed. "Hot chocolate?"
"For you. I want coffee."
"Let's go then," Emma stood and grabbed her coat.
Mary Margaret left the path for the woods as soon as she heard the unmistakable sound of an dove in distress. She always did have a soft spot for the creatures of the world, and birds in particular.
"Oh," she cooed as she saw the struggling dove, trapped in a net, "Hey. How did you manage to get yourself," she continued her muttering as she picked the poor bird up, net and all, "Come on," she reassured it, "It's going to be okay."
After all, she knew just the place to take the poor thing.
And if it brought her to see David again, that was just a fringe benefit.
Mary Margaret was trying not to be too obvious with her staring at David. Not that she wasn't allowed to stare at him- they had been going on dates after all (mostly to Granny's in the early morning, before they each had work, and a couple of dinners at the diner, and just the other day David had surprised her by taking her to Kisamos Greek Taverna. The town had seen them, knew they were dating, there was no reason for Mary Margaret to try to limit her stares in front of the very nice Dr. Thatcher as he examined the dove she brought in.
And yet, Mary Margaret tried to focus on the bird in question rather than David. At least until the blush that seemed to bloom on her cheeks whenever he was around died down a bit.
"Well," the veterinarian stopped his examination and spoke to Mary Margaret, "The good news is, no broken bones. She was just a little dehydrated, but I got her some fluids, and she should be just fine."
David flashed her a smile and Mary Margaret's cheeks flamed again. The schoolteacher, however, hadn't missed how Dr. Thatcher had phrased his news, and immediately asked, "And the bad news?"
The Doctor gave a grimace, "Well, this is a North Atlantic dove. It's a migratory species, very unique among American doves. Now, they tend to form strong monogamous bonds, meaning," he trialed off.
"If I don't get her back to her flock, she'll be alone forever," Mary Margaret finished, her face clearly showing her sympathetic sorry. David's eyes settled on her completely as he frowned at her distress.
"Well, it's... It's a long shot, but the alternative," he trailed off again and put the dove into a cage, "She'll heal, but she won't be happy here," he told the teacher.
Mary Margaret's spine straightened, her mind made up, feeling an strength of determination she hadn't known was in her, she gave a firm nod to the vet and told him, "I'll take my chances. Thank you, doctor."
The man smiled at her, "You're welcome. Good luck," and with that he left the room, leaving Mary Margaret and David alone with the dove. Mary Margaret picked up the cage and turned to the man she was pretty sure she was already in love with. She felt a sort of sympathy for this bird, no one deserved to be alone forever, and Mary Margaret was not going to let that happen to anyone, person or bird, on her watch. David seemed a little surprised at the determination he saw in the normally timid schoolteacher's eyes, but then smiled, as if a piece of him recognized that piece of her. He straightened himself. Storm be damned, he'd help this woman.
"The storm is coming," he reminded her, "I'll drive," then he hastily added, feeling a bit of his courage leaving, "If you want my help, that is."
Mary Margaret smiled at him, and he felt the courage return. How did she do that? "Of course. The storm is coming tomorrow, and if we wait, she could be lost forever, completely alone. No one deserves that."
"Then we'd better hurry," David easily replied, grabbing his coat.
David drove carefully in the increasingly bad weather- the wind was gusting and it looked ready to pour any second. He shot a glance over to Mary Margaret, who was sitting beside him with the dove in her lab, murmuring reassurances to it. He couldn't help but wonder if she was really talking to the dove.
"So, I realize you are quite possibly the kindest person I've ever met," he began, determined to get to the source of the problem, "But I can't help feeling there's some other motivation going on here."
Mary Margaret sighed, "It's just...Kathryn," she admitted.
"What about Kathryn?" David asked, wondering what his ex had to do with it.
Mary Margaret looked uncomfortable, "She's alone now and I feel like it's my fault. Our fault, and I just can't help but hope: if we can get this dove where she belongs, maybe Kathryn will find where she belongs, too. It's stupid," she sighed, eyes focused on the bird.
David thought carefully before replying, "First: nothing here is anyone's fault. Kathryn said our marriage was over before I even had my accident, and it is not your fault I love you and it's not my fault-"
Mary Margaret interrupted with a gasp, "You love me?"
David felt his cowardice come up and strangle him. He wanted to deny it, to take it all back. He wasn't ready to risk that she didn't feel the same for him, but the dove began to coo and he felt his courage rise up again. "Yeah," he softly replied. "I think I do."
Mary Margaret grinned, bright and happy, "I love you, too."
David glanced away from the road and took in her happy expression quickly, he smirked, "Well, we've got some timing. Driving in the middle of a storm and we pick now."
Mary Margaret suddenly groaned, "Now I feel guilty again."
David took one hand off the wheel and groped for hers, and when their fingers linked together he found the right words, bubbling out of him as if they were there all along, "Listen, Kathryn will be fine. We are not responsible for her happiness. She and whoever truly loves her is. We are responsible for our happiness, and as long as we don't commit any crimes on our way to that," he joked, before getting serious again, "We're fine. I love you. I've probably loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you, but that memory is a bit fuzzy what with the passing out and all," he grinned, "But I feel like...I've spent my whole life looking for you, and now, I've finally found you. I'm not letting misplaced guilt or anything else get in the way of us being happy."
Mary Margaret's brightest smile made another appearance, "You found me," she said in a hush.
David brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss, "I will always find you," he promised, and it felt like even more.
Emma and Ada were just paying for their drinks at Granny's counter when the wind suddenly picked up, signaling the real storm wasn't far behind.
Kathryn...whatever her last name was now- rushed into the diner and slammed the door shut behind her, avoiding the gusts. Ada examined David's ex-wife carefully- it had been months since the divorced was finalized, but Mary Margaret and David had started going out on dates, and the whole town knew it. No doubt, so did the ex-wife. And when Ada saw how upset Kathryn looked, she was pretty sure she had heard.
Emma looked at Ada, and then followed her eyesight to an obviously unhappy Kathryn. The blonde sighed, "I'm going back to the apartment," she informed her sister, "Go...do your thing. Pick up another stray." She waved Ada off and exited the dinner. She certainly didn't want to talk to her father's ex-wife that he was only married to due to a curse. Emma wasn't even sure how to begin a conversation knowing all that.
Ada sighed. She knew Kathryn probably wasn't in love with David. Not really, at least. Heck, Kathryn's alternate self might have some True Love wandering around Storybrooke equally ignorant of why they were so unhappy in life. But the woman was under the impression that her marriage had been dissolved and her ex-husband was moving on and she was alone with the exception of Regina's friendship. And, since Regina was the one who cursed Kathryn in the first place, Ada wasn't sure what the quality of that friendship could be.
Also, she never could manage to look at someone broken-hearted and not feel the compulsion to help.
Sighing, Ada took her to-go coffee and slid into the booth across from Kathryn...whatever her last name was now. It was a fake last name in any case, given by the curse.
"Hi," Ada started out cautiously, not sure how receptive Kathryn would be. "You seem pretty upset and I make it a policy to never leave someone who is upset alone, so," she gave a shrug as if to say here I am.
Kathryn sniffled slightly and tried to wipe under her eyes discretely, "Why do you care? Aren't you friends with-," she cut herself off with a flinch.
Ada shrugged again, "I've always been under the impression that you can be friends, or friendly, with as many people as you like. Listen, you're upset, and I hate to think I just left you here feeling miserable when I could potentially do something, or at least try. No matter who I'm friends with, I like to think I'm not cold-hearted enough to leave someone in pain alone."
Kathryn took a deep breath, "Could you answer some questions for me, honestly?" She figured that Ada, being close friends with Miss Swan, who was living with Mary Margaret Blanchard, would know what was going on. Kathryn had the pictures, and maybe it was masochistic, but she wanted to know.
Ada nodded, "Honestly, yes. But...I won't...invade anyone's privacy, you know. Any secrets I may know, I'm keeping. That work for you?"
Kathryn figured that was probably the best she would get, and...it was a stance she supposed she could respect. Then a thought occurred to her.
"You won't tell anyone-"
Ada cut her off, "I'm a sort of counselor myself, not like Dr. Hopper but...we'll say it falls under confidentiality terms anyways. I won't even tell anyone I chatted with you at all if you don't want me to."
Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want anyone to know she was asking about the love life of her ex-husband. After all, the divorce had been finalized months ago, and it had been years since they even really were in contact what with the coma and all. Technically, they had probably been separated since...Kathryn was unable to determine how many years since David had left and gotten into an accident. She pulled her mind out of the haze and focused on the red head across from her.
"Were they- before the-"
"Were they together before the divorce was finalized? No," Ada answered succinctly, "And I do know that for a fact, because, while they were definitely attracted to each other, they both agreed that David wasn't ready for a relationship of any kind and Mary Margaret deserved to be more than someone's mistress."
Kathryn tried not to sound bitter as she pulled out the photographs, "Well, then they lied to you, too. Some people will stop at nothing to destroy the happiness of others," She slammed them down before Ada and turned her head to the side, unwilling to watch the redhead sort through the photos of the affair.
"Kathryn...where did you get these?" Ada asked.
"Does it matter?" she couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice this time, "They clearly went behind everyone's backs and-"
"Did nothing," Ada corrected. "Look, I'm not sure if you want to hear this, but I think you should. Look carefully, at this picture," Ada slide one in front of Kathryn and pointed at Mary Margaret, "Do you see how Mary Margaret's eye level isn't focused on David? And do you see the slight blurring around David's coat? More importantly, I can tell you that in the original photograph, it was me standing next to Mary Margaret, not David. I remember this day, because I spilled hot coffee all over Mary Margaret's sweater- you can see the stain. After I did that, we went to the apartment and spent the rest of the day there. This photo was faked. I'm not sure about the other ones but," Ada trailed off.
"Regina gave them to me," Kathryn confessed, not sure if she felt relieved or not. Her marriage, after all, was still over, and it appeared that, while he had not acted on it while married to her, David was attracted to Mary Margaret from the beginning. "She said Sidney had taken them and she had buried them, not willing to let me get involved in a scandal. She protected me."
"I think," Ada knew exactly what she thought, but she couldn't say it to this woman now. It was all about a curse, after all, and Regina was currently Kathryn's one and only friend. So, Ada aimed her suspicions at another person, "Perhaps Sidney went looking for a scandal, couldn't find one, and manufactured one instead. He didn't count on Regina protecting you. So he probably found something else to report on. I know...he's done some illegal things for stories before."
"Henry being born in jail," Kathryn nodded then gasped slightly, "I'm sorry- I know she's your friend."
"She's my sister," Ada corrected, "And she was in jail when Henry was born, but it was a juvie record, and sealed. The only way to get it opened without a court order, which no one would give someone unless it was an actual court case, was to do something illegal. Sidney's...not a reliable source."
"So he didn't cheat," Kathryn sighed, "I'm not sure if I feel better or not."
"Listen, this is totally unasked for advice and you can feel free to tell me to go to hell if you want to but, do you really care what David does? It's been years since you guys were actually married, and you thought it ended then. This whole thing with the second try and everything, it was pretty doomed when he didn't remember who you were at all, or who he was. He's literally a different person. And, I'm sure you are too. We all change with time. You divorced. It seems like, really, the papers were just making it official. You guys haven't been together since before his accident. Maybe...instead of focusing on David and what he did or didn't do after coming out of a coma," Ada started forming a plan- she would need Henry's help, but she was sure it was feasible, "Instead of feeling sad or angry, maybe...take some time and appreciate yourself. Focus on you. Has there ever been something you've wanted to do that you put off because you were scared or didn't think it was the right time, or thought you had to because you needed to take your marriage into account as well?"
"Well," Kathryn began hesitantly, "I've always wanted to go to law school, but then we'd have to uproot everything."
"Maybe, since you only have to focus on you now, and what makes you happy: you should start researching some law schools. Maybe take a few online courses?" Ada suggested, not sure if the whole people-can't-leave-Storybrooke thing was still in effect since people could evidently come now.
"God, I was so angry with them both. I can't believe how nasty I was feeling. I mean, I was crying and then Regina said-"
"I'll be the first to admit I'm not a fan of the Mayor. And she's not a fan of me. But, she is your friend," of sorts, "And there's this whole girl code you must hate and loathe your friend's ex thing...Regina's angry enough for both of you, why don't you let her be angry, and you be happy? David's moving on. If you can call starting over completely with no memories moving on," Ada shook herself and got back on point, "Maybe you should consider it too. Do you really want to be with David? Wouldn't you rather be with someone who picks you, no doubts or questions? No one deserves to alone, and if you and David did get back together, I get the feeling you both would still feel alone."
"You're right," Kathryn gave a nod, "I mean- even when he was in the house, after he woke up, it still felt like-."
"He wasn't there at all?"
Kathryn gave a small smile, sniffling one final time and then lifted her chin up, some pride returning to her as she considered Ada's words. "I think I should sign up for some online courses and begin some research into law school."
Ada grinned. Whoever Kathryn really was, she seemed to have a good sense of self-worth, and now with the curse breaking...Kathryn was starting to feel it, "I think that sounds excellent. And you should open yourself up to some love. You might not find it right away, but you deserve it. Remember that."
"I do deserve it," Kathryn whispered, as if having a revelation.
Ada grinned.
David put the car in park as they came to the barrier on the road where Mary Margaret had found the dove.
He turned to her with a grin, ready to take on the world, "There's always barriers on the path of true love," he promised her as he got out of the car, "We'll get this dove home: for it, for us, for Kathryn. Ok?"
Mary Margaret nodded with a determined fever in her eyes as she exited the truck into the storm, the dove in her arms, "They're waiting for you," she promised it as she pulled her hat down tighter.
Ada bounded into Mary Margaret's apartment and shut the door behind her, Emma looked up from her seat on the couch.
"Took you long enough," she commented casually, but Ada noticed how Emma relaxed slightly at her return.
Ada grinned, "Where's Mary Margaret?" she asked, careful to use Snow White's cursed name in case she was in the apartment.
"Snow White," Emma told her, emphasis on the word, to show it was safe, "Is somewhere out in the storm. I don't know. Haven't seen her."
Ada eyed Emma, how despite her casual words, looked worried.
"She's fine," the redhead promised her sister, "And she'll be back before it really gets bad. Now, where's the walkie and the book?"
Emma looked confused, "The book's where ever you left it, and the walkie's on my bedside table."
Ada quickly retrieved both and settled next to Emma on the couch.
"What're we doing?" Emma asked warily.
Ada grinned as she picked up the walkie, "This is Gloria, looking for the Reader," Emma rolled her eyes.
"I still don't see how your middle name can be a code name."
"Take it up with your kid," Ada responded.
"Gloria?" Henry's voice came over the walkie, "This is the Reader, what's your status?"
"I'm trying to figure out someone's real name," Ada responded. "Thought I should ask you before hitting the book."
"Who?" even over the walkie, Henry's enthusiasm was unmistakable.
"Kathryn- David's ex-wife."
"Ooh," Henry replied, "Why her?"
"She's pretty sad, Henry, so I want to introduce her to someone who will make her happy. A family member or her True Love, someone. Besides, every person we reunite weakens the curse a little bit more."
"I gotcha, it helps Operation Cobra and it's a good thing to do."
Emma smiled softly at her son's sweetness, motioning Ada to hand over the walkie.
"Yeah, kid, it's a good thing."
"Hey, Emma!" Henry chirped, "You working on this too?"
"Of course," Emma replied, "It's for Operation Cobra."
"Well, I have some ideas- she might be King Midas's daughter, Abigail."
Ada bent over the book as Emma continued to talk to Henry, mostly just asking the occasional question as the boy happily told Emma the story. He pretty much had the book memorized, after all.
He didn't often have someone he could talk to, and talking to Emma? Better than anything.
"Hear that?" Mary Margaret called out to David when she heard the cooing. "It's the flock!" She rushed ahead to the top of a crest, looking across the ravine before crouching down to get the dove out of the cage. A sudden boom of thunder startled her, and she slipped over the edge, hearing David shout her name even as she grabbed onto a loose root, holding on for dear life.
Thank god, she came with her own personal Prince in tow, David quickly reached over the edge and grabbed onto Mary Margaret's arm, helping her pull herself up and out of the ravine.
"David!" she couldn't help but shout as she reached safety, letting him wrap her up in his arms as she slowly stopped trembling.
"You scared me," he whispered into her short hair as he squeezed her tight.
"I'm alright," she reassured both him and herself, even as more thunder rumbled. They both slowly calmed, and Mary Margaret looked back up to the birdcage. At that moment, the rain began to fall down. Mary Margaret gathered her coat around herself and David helped her back up as they raced to the cage.
"The dove-" she began, but David cut her off.
"It's not safe, come on, we'll keep looking but we'll see if we can't find shelter ourselves too."
They stumbled along, when David shouted, "There!" Mary Margaret looked to where he pointed and saw a small cabin. They both raced to it and, after determining no one was home, David kicked the door down and they let themselves in.
David quickly grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Mary Margaret, who was still clutching the dove.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, "We couldn't find the flock before the storm."
Mary Margaret sighed, "It's stupid, but I convinced myself if we just found the flock, then everyone and everything would be perfect and no one would have to be unhappy."
David sighed as he sat her down and wrapped his arms around her, "We're not responsible for anyone's happiness other than our own," he repeated, "You can't make someone happy, not really. You can do things that make it easier for them to be happy, little gestures and stuff to show you care, but everyone, ultimately, is the one who decides whether or not their happy in life. This dove, is one dove, it's not a symbol of anyone's happiness. It's a dove. And it is sad, we couldn't get it to it's flock, but we tried. We did everything in our power, and in the end, that's all we could do," he rubbed Mary Margaret's arms, trying to get some warmth into her, "I love you," he reminded her, "And I'm happy, because I love you, and you've made it easier for me to be happy since you love me, too, and that- that is a very good thing. Yes, it's sad we didn't get the dove to it's flock, but we- we found each other, and that's happy. You gotta take the good with the bad."
They sat in silence for a few moments as Mary Margaret tried to absorb that. She struggled- something in her felt responsible for the happiness of everyone around her- David, Emma, Henry, her students, the dove- but she also recognized something in David's words- something that sounded like truth.
"You're right," she finally said, and as if waiting for her words, the storm suddenly came to a halt.
"The rain's stopped," David whispered in awe.
Mary Margaret suddenly jumped up and grabbed the cage once more, "I realize this doesn't affect our happiness or Kathryn's, and that this might be a long shot- but-"
"Let's go look for the flock," David grinned and rose too.
The Prince and Princess, who had forgotten who they were but found each other (yet again) anyways, exited the cabin and looked up to see doves flying over head. They both smiled and together, they opened the cage, releasing the dove inside. Whether or not it would be happy was up to the dove, but they had done their best for it, and they grinned so much it made the kiss they were sharing a bit ridiculous, but perhaps all the more sincere for it.
I was writing this chapter and last chapter and I've realized something: had Regina actually honestly wanted Kathryn happy, she would've set her up with Jim (Frederick's Storybrooke counterpart). Why did she not do that? C'mon, Madame Mayor, give me some reason to like you! *sigh* She's not gonna, is she?
But I had Ada chat with Kathryn, who is starting to remember some of Abigail's pride and self-assurance, because I just really wanted to give her a friend or friendly advice worth having. Kathryn's treated pretty badly, when all's said and done. And now Ada, Emma, and Henry are going to find some way to set Kathryn up with her True Love. And people are waking up more and more! Yay!
It is what it is, so why don't you guys drop a review? What do you think of me twisting the timeline around and blending the episodes? Was it obvious and disjointed? Was it flowing pretty well? Are there too many subplots happening? Tell me what you think.
