The bells chimed loudly, announcing her entrance into the small shop, and Mary Margaret glanced around looking for Gold. The store was a much better meeting place to ask questions compared to when she'd spoken to him about Emma all those years ago. Though, she thought warily as the lights flickered, no better lit.
Gold emerged suddenly from the back room, the sound of his cane tapping against the floor alerting her to his presence before she saw him. Though the bars of a prison did not separate them now and his tone was not manic as it had once been, the gleam in his eyes was still one of a man who saw all and knew all and had much to tell. Provided she pay an adequate enough price.
"Miss Blanchard," He greeted her. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
"I need you to tell me what you know." She said without preamble, a determined look on her face.
Mr. Gold arched an eyebrow at her. "What I know about what, exactly, dearie?"
"This baby."
"Ah," His eyes flickered down to her stomach briefly. "I suppose congratulations are in order, but I'm afraid I know nothing about this child of yours."
Mary Margaret frowned, studying his face closely. It was as impassive as ever, not even a flicker of his eyes or a twitch of his mouth to give him away. "You know everything." She protested.
Gold gave a derisive snort of laughter. "While I appreciate your faith in me that is not entirely true."
Frustration building within her, Mary Margaret frowned. Thoughts raced through her mind and she rejected them one after the other. He needed some incentive to tell her whatever it was that he knew. Before there had been the curse in which he had nothing more to lose and everything to gain. Now? She couldn't think of any reason he would be forthcoming with his knowledge.
The flickering of the curtain that led to the back caught her attention before it opened to reveal Belle and Mary Margaret smiled.
Unless…
"Belle!" She greeted the other woman brightly. "Hi."
Belle smiled, her smile full of warmth and gentleness. It was easy to see how even Gold had fallen in love with her. "Hi, Mary Margaret. I'd love to talk, but I was just leaving. I have to be at the library soon."
Mary Margaret glanced at Gold. It was clear that she was getting nowhere with him, at least not today.
She smiled back at Belle. "Me, too. I'll join you."
Belle nodded her consent and the two women left the shop, Mary Margaret ignoring Gold's calculating eyes on her back.
Hi guys! Thanks for continuing reading! This chapter is a bit shorter because it's 2 in the morning and I have college math in the morning. Don't forget to follow/review/tell all your friends/bake me cookies! :) -Jkilmer
P.S: There's been some worry expressed, so I'm just going to clarify. MM/Snow's baby is NOT Dr. Whale's! They were together, quite briefly, during the curse, way before David even woke up. So, no worries. I ship Snowing and the baby is definitely theirs.
