Salvage

Killian stood at the helm of the boat, watching David stare off into the distance. He felt sorry for the man. He understood the desire to get out of there, but he was also sure that David was only making things worse. He was certain for himself, that there would be hell to pay when next he saw Emma. He reached under the captain's chair and procured his hidden flask. He walked over to David and silently offered the flask to him. David glanced his way briefly before taking the flask in hand. He tried not to cough as he took a drink. He was not a big drinker of straight alcohol, but he savored the burn in his throat and chest as it went down, hoping it would numb the pain of heartbreak.

He handed the flask back to Killian, who took a large drink for himself before putting the cap back on. "A little something to help when I face Emma. I am quite positive that she will not be pleased by our early departure."

David winced at his words. "I really appreciate you getting me out of there. I'm sorry if it causes you trouble with Emma."

"She won't be happy, but she will no doubt understand. Emma is inclined to engage in the same sort of behavior."

"What kind of behavior are you referring to?"

"Running away, mate."

"That's not what I'm doing."

"If you prefer I could call it quitting, or perhaps the term, giving up, strikes your fancy?"

"I call it letting go gracefully. Maybe you missed the passionate reunion between lovers, on display back at the beach. What did you expect me to do? Sit there and watch?"

"I don't know what you saw, but I saw nothing of the sort. What I saw was a poor lass with no clue how to handle the situation at hand. Her body was stiff as a statue, with her hands clenched at her sides the whole time. She did not return his embrace. The only emotion present on her face was shock, not passion."

David didn't respond as he contemplated Killian's view of what happened on the beach. The only problem, was that he couldn't stop seeing Frank with his arms around her, kissing her. Mary Margaret hadn't even noticed his departure when they left.

When Killian realized David was not going to comment, he continued with his observations. "I did though, in fact, see unbridled passion taking place on that beach moments before you became aware of our presence."

"You saw that?" David said, slightly embarrassed at the thought.

"It was hard to miss, mate. I have a feeling everyone witnessed it. No doubt Frank's actions when we arrived had more to do with marking his territory, than his love for Mary Margaret."

"I should have never kissed her. I had no right."

"Mary Margaret didn't appear to mind. In fact that she seemed fully engaged herself. The way I see it, she had just as much responsibility as you to put a stop to it, and she didn't."

"Maybe so. Still, I should have displayed more self-control. That's part of why I left. Mary Margaret needs the opportunity to decide about the future of her relationship with Frank without any pressure from me."

"I won't argue with that, but don't you think she deserves to know how you feel."

"She knows."

"Does she? Actions speak louder than words, Dave. Leaving her alone to face the repercussions of what happened on that Island, is shouting a message rather loudly. What you have to surmise is, whether it's the message you wish to project?"

With those words, Killian returned his attention to steering the boat, leaving David to hopefully think about what he said.

Meanwhile, Emma had gotten Mary Margaret settled on the fishing boat with a fresh bottle of water, and a blanket to curl up in. Frank had wasted no time telling Mary Margaret all the details of Emma's scheme. Emma responded by calling Frank names and reminding everyone of his many reported dalliances. Finally Mary had had enough, and commanded both of them to shut up. She spent the remainder of the trip back to the beach house in complete silence, refusing to acknowledge either one of them.

Upon their return, she had gone straight to her room and taken a long, hot shower. By the time she got out, at least one decision was settled in her heart. She exited the bathroom to find Frank sitting on the bed waiting for her. He immediately rose, and moved to embrace her, attempting to pull her into a kiss.

She forcefully removed his hands from around her body and stepped back. "No Frank. I'm sorry, but no."

He immediately looked contrite. "I understand. I know you must be exhausted. Why don't you get some rest? I'll be here when you wake up."

"I am tired, but that's not why I said no. I can't do this anymore."

"Can't do what anymore?"

"Us. I can't do us anymore."

"If this is about those girls, I promise there is nothing to be worried about. From now on, baby, there will be no one but you. I promise."

"This has nothing to do with that."

"I see," Frank said angrily. It's about him isn't it?"

"No," she said sorrowfully. "This has nothing to do with David."

"Don't lie to me. I saw you together. What exactly happened on that Island?"

Mary Margaret winced at the anger in his voice, as guilt washed over her. "I'm really sorry about what you saw. Nothing more happened. We kissed, that's all. Honestly it has nothing to do with this. This is about you and me. I don't think we would really be happy together. We don't really love each other, not like married couples should. We don't have the kind of love that makes sacrifice and compromise worth it. Eventually we would grow to despise each other. "

"I know you don't believe it, but I do love you. Think of all we could accomplish together. We would make such a great team, you and I."

"I don't want a just a teammate. I want a soulmate." Her voice held a great amount of sadness, but also was full of the strength of her convictions.

Mary Margaret took off her engagement ring, and held it out to return it to him. He stood there for a long time, as if he were going to argue, or beg and plead with her to reconsider. Finally though, he took the ring from her, and left the room. Mary Margaret collapsed on the bed in tears that were a mixture of sadness and relief.

Once the tears had dried up, Mary Margaret got up and began to pack. She was ready to go home. Thankfully, her father had been able to get them a flight home that would be leaving in a few hours.

Emma entered her room shortly after she began packing. Mary Margaret refused to acknowledge her presence.

"I guess you're still not talking to me?" Emma questioned. She tried to give off a lightness in her attitude hoping to break down her sister's resistance. Mary Margaret just continued calmly packing.

"I thought you might want to know that Frank is gone. He told us that you called off the wedding. He tried to get Leo to intervene. Dad told him the best thing to do for now was to give you some space."

Mary acted like she hadn't heard a word she said, as she slowly and meticulously folded her clothing one by one. Emma sat on the bed and reached out to grab her hand, trying to force her to talk.

"I know you are mad, and you have every right to be, but please. I was just trying to help. I thought I was doing to the right thing. Surely you can see that. I love you, and I want you to be happy.'

Mary Margaret pulled her hand away and walked into the bathroom to grab her toiletries.

Frustration rose, as Emma had finally had enough. Nobody out-stubborned Emma Swan. Rising she grabbed Mary Margaret and pulled her back into the bedroom pushing her into the chair near the window.

"You don't want to talk to me, that's fine, but you're damn well going to listen."

When Mary Margaret didn't move, Emma took a deep breath and began to pace nervously, hoping the right words would come.

"I know David screwed up. I understand that you are hurt and angry. I know that things look hopeless, but trust me they're not. Do you know how I know that? You Mary Margaret. You taught me that. When Mom died, and Dad retreated into his grief, you never lost hope. You read me fairytales every night and told me that someday we would find our happy ending. Back then I didn't believe. I thought you were being stupid and naive. Then I met Killian, and you know what? I still struggled to believe. But there was this voice in my head…your voice. It was telling me to go for it. Telling me that love was possible. Dad thought I was being rebellious, but I wasn't. The truth was I was scared to death. I didn't trust love, but I trusted you. And it turns out you were right. Life with Killian is better than I ever thought possible"

Emma stopped her pacing and bent down on the floor in front of Mary Margaret. She reached out and took her sister's hand, grateful when she didn't pull away, though she still refused eye contact.

"Less than a week ago you told me that a part of love was forgiveness. Today, you are hurting so much that maybe you no longer believe it, but it's still true. David loves you. I'm asking you to forgive him. I'm telling you, love is worth it. If you need someone to blame, blame me, not David. This is all my fault. I manipulated the two of you and I'm sorry. Don't let my mistake take away your happy ending."

Mary Margaret finally looked up and met her eyes. "I can't believe what you did to me. I'm not ready to forgive you, but Emma, the mistake that hurts most, that was not yours, it was David's."

Before Emma could respond her father entered the room. He too was playing the ignore Emma game, looking only at her sister.

"Mary Margaret, we need to go if we are going to make our flight. Are you ready?"

Mary Margaret stood up. "Yes, father, I just need to zip up my luggage."

She went to the bag lying open on her bed, but he stopped her. "Here, let me get that for you."

As soon as Leo had said that to her she grabbed her purse from the dresser. "I'll wait in the car then," she said, desperate to get out of there.

Leo zipped up Mary Margaret's suitcase and lifted it off the bed. When he turned to exit the room, he noticed that Emma had stepped in front of the door, blocking his way.

"Move, Emma. We need to get going."

"She won't listen to me. Please, I'm begging you. You know she loves him."

"What exactly is it you would like me to do?" His voice was full of anger and exasperation. Emma knew the question was rhetorical. He had no intention of doing anything, but she was still going to take the opening he gave her.

"Your approval means so much to her. It's the number one reason she was with Frank in the first place. Give her the freedom to follow her heart."

"You're not old enough to understand this yet, but sometimes your heart can lead you astray. Life is not a fairytale. I'm trying to encourage her to take the path that will ensure her future."

Leopold made his way past Emma and down the stairs. Emma followed him to the top of the stairs.

"And you're lack of heart is leading you astray. Mother would be so disappointed in you if she were alive. She would never want either of us to settle for anything less than true love."

Leopold stopped on the bottom of the stairs, and turned back to Emma. He looked truly wounded at her words. He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something and then thought better of it, and merely walked out the door. Emma collapsed onto the stairs, a wreck of emotions. She had made such a mess of things. Killian had warned her of the consequences, but she had never imagined it would turn out quite like this. She pulled out her phone and dialed Killian's number, desperate for the comfort only his love could bring.

David sat in the back of the cab, his foot pressed down on an imaginary accelerator, as if by sheer will he could make the car go faster. Emma's phone call to Killian had spurred him into action. Killian had insisted he stay with him for the night. He had been sitting there having a pity party, feeling sorry for himself, until he heard that Mary Margaret was on her way back to Maine. At that moment, he knew that he couldn't let her go again. He was going to fight for her. He didn't deserve her forgiveness, but he intended to earn it.

He barely waited for the cab to come to a complete stop, before jumping out and rushing into the airport. When entered the terminal, he looked around. Mary Margaret was nowhere to be seen. She must have already checked her baggage and entered the secure area to head to her gate. He had no choice but to buy a ticket if he wanted back there. He was standing in line, with his shoes in his hand, waiting to go through thee metal detectors when he heard the intercom call for people to start boarding the flight to Maine.

With no thought to the consequences, he pushed through to the front of the line. He dropped his shoes and keys on the table and sprinted through the metal detector. He didn't stop to grab his shoes or keys, just continued full speed and barefoot toward the concourse. He never even heard security call for him to stop, as everything around him faded away in his desperation to get to her.

His heart leaped in his chest as he spotted her in line to board, mere feet from disappearing behind the door. He called out her name. Relief filled him as he saw her turn. She had heard him.

"David?" She called as she stepped out of line and moved toward him. "What are you doing here?"

"I Love You. I will always love."

He pulled out the ring. The one thing he had managed to hold onto at the security gate. He held it out, but before he ask the question he had been waiting two years to ask, he was tackled to the ground by security. The ring was knocked from his hand. He heard the metal smack against the tile floor as it bounced twice before rolling to a stop at Mary Margaret's feet.

She looked back and forth between the ring and David, her mouth agape. She didn't move as she watched David being handcuffed and the pulled to his feet as they then proceeded to frisk him. David never looked away from her, ignoring the fact that he was apparently being taken into custody. His only thoughts were about making her understand.

"I had that ring in my hand to give you two years ago. I had planned on asking you to marry me the night of your father's party, but I let myself be convinced that I wasn't good enough for you. I failed you and I regret it every day." David looked away from her for the first time, looking pointedly at Leopold. Mary Margaret noticed, and looked briefly at her father, but before she could question anything, David continued.

"Mary Margaret, I still want to marry you. I believe that we can still salvage our relationship. I know I have a lot of making up to do, but please give me a chance. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

The crowd that had gathered around in curiosity began clapping and calling for her to say yes. Multiple women made a show of shouting out that they would marry him if she wouldn't. David ignored the crowd. His attention was focused solely on her, searching for any kind of a sign that he had broken through the walls around her heart. There was none.

"Come on, Romeo," one of the guards said sarcastically.

"Looks like you're going to need to find another Juliette," The other one added laughing.

David didn't resist as they led him away.

Within minutes, the crowds began to disperse, as boarding for the plane resumed. Mary Margaret remained there, staring at the green-stoned ring which was still on the ground just in front of her.

The flight attendant came and placed her hand gently on Mary Margaret's shoulder. "Ma'am we need you to board the plane now." Mary nodded her head, although she looked like she hadn't really understood what the woman had asked of her.

Leopold looked at his daughter's face. In that moment it looked so much like her mother's. Emma's words came back to him. It was true. Eva would be disappointed in him. He had not intentionally set out to hurt either of his children, but he had. What a horrible father he had become. His own grief had turned him hard against the ideals of love. Emma had been so desperate to get away from him that she had legally changed her name. Now it seemed whatever choice he made here, Mary Margaret was likely to do the same.

He turned the airline employee. "My daughter will not be boarding this flight anymore. I will still be flying with you, but I would kindly appreciate it if you would give me just a moment."

Leopold bent down and retrieved the ring from the ground. He made a point to ignore what a simple and inexpensive ring it was. He took Mary Margaret by the arms and turned her to look at him. His voice was gentle as her asked her, "Do you love him?"

The question shocked Mary Margaret out of her stupor. Was her father genuinely asking her if she loved David? She was almost afraid to answer honestly, but her father's expression was one of sincerity.

"Yes, very much so."

He placed the ring in the palm of her hand. "Then go after him. Tell him that I have changed my Mind. That he has my blessing."

"What do you mean changed your mind?"

Leopold hesitated slightly before giving her an answer. "Mr. Nolan asked me for your hand in marriage two years ago. I'm afraid that I was not very accommodating at the time."

"What? Why would you do such a thing?"

"I was only trying to look out for you. I thought I was doing what was best at the time. Your sister said something today that made me think of your mother. You look so much like her you know. She was so beautiful."

Leopold paused as he gently ran a hand down her hair. He placed a hand under her chin and lifted her head. His focus on her features was so intense, yet he seemed to not even be seeing her. Overwhelmed with emotion and memories, he removed his hand and stepped back. He cleared his throat before continuing.

"I've had a lot of success in my life Mary Margaret. I've been blessed with wealth and power and influence, but I've never been as happy as I was with your mother. For a longtime I thought the heartbreak of losing her wasn't worth the joy of loving her, but I was wrong. Love…if it's real…if it's true…if it's free from selfish motives…if it's returned in equal measure…is greater than any other thing. That's what your mother always said, and she was right. "

Mary Margaret had never heard her father speak so poetically. Tears were shining in his eyes and his smile was genuine. She reached up and kissed him gently on the cheek. "Thank you, Daddy," she said, her voice choked with emotion. She gave him a last quick smile, before she turned and rushed to find David.