Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing this. Every single view from you guys seriously makes me feel like I'm not alone, like I'm not wasting my time. Like what I have to write might actually matter.
This chapter's a little bit shorter, but I kept it at this length for plot purposes.
Hope you enjoy!
Beacons: Chapter Four.
Emma sat, still damp, but wrapped in a towel in the back of David's car. Warm gusts of air massaged her hair and face. David had insisted that every vent within reach be pointed in her direction.
Glancing at her in the rearview mirror, a spike of pride ran through him. He made that person. That person was part of him.
David had carried Emma wordlessly from the house, pausing to speak only once she was in his car. She didn't have any belongings worth taking, apparently, as they'd slammed the door in his face.
No matter. He could stop and get her some things. He tapped the wheel.
"Do you have my ship?" a small, high voice from the backseat. The sound of it sent David's heart racing.
"Why did you try to hurt yourself?" David asked, voice cracking.
"I didn't," Emma said.
"In the tub," David replied.
"I was trying to find the ocean," Emma said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Relief washed over David's chest. "If you don't have the ship, it's okay, cause I escaped anyway."
"Escaped?" David asked.
"I didn't like it there," she whispered.
"Why not?" David asked.
"They were mean." A silence hung in the air as David felt tears well up.
"Sorry," Emma said.
"It's okay," David met her eyes in the rearview mirror. "Hey, next time you want to find the ocean, let me know. We'll find a better way to do it."
#
Mary hadn't been out of the house all weekend. The thought of leaving the warm blankets on Monday morning was enough to make her close her eyes and sigh.
Her apartment was rather barren, save for stacks of books and a dinosaur of a computer. She padded to the sink, placing the one dirty cup at the bottom of the basin. Letting her bare hand warm under the faucet, she glanced back to the tangle of pillows and sheets on the bed. A large, fluffy comforter dragged from her shoulders onto the floors, and she tried her best to keep the splashes from reaching it. It was difficult to keep it balanced with just one hand.
Itches of boredom trickled through her thoughts. Why was her life so much less exciting than everyone else's? Was there something wrong with her?
She turned to the fridge. A lone crayon drawing that Melanie gave her last Thursday stared back. A smiling sun.
Why did she feel so empty?
Why did she feel like she was missing someone?
#
The Dark One gazed into the teacup, letting the shreds of his remaining humanity ache in full force. Just this moment. In the dark. Alone. Allowing the memories of the gold threads, the smell of books, the laughter wash over him.
He felt more human, here. He'd realized this gradually, as his emotions came up to plague him more and more often.
Patience.
His finger caressed the edge of the chip, the glass almost biting into his skin.
Everything would fall into place.
And if it didn't,
He'd make it so.
Until then, he'd go for a walk.
#
Regina sat in her idling car, waiting at the town line for the triumphant David Nolan to return, child in hand. How he'd crossed the line without getting himself killed, she had an inkling of a suspicion.
Gold had been dancing along to her orchestra since their arrival, but that was about to end. He knew. There was no other way.
He not only knew, but he'd helped David. Given him some kind of magic. Nothing big or noticeable. Enough to get the man out of town and back in again.
David's car came into view, and sure enough, as it passed her, Regina saw the lumpy form of another person in the backseat. Regina held her breath. The vehicle passed over the town line. The low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance.
He'd been planning this. Regina clenched her teeth.
A knock on her window. Regina turned, slow and calculating. She rolled the window down. And there he was, with his cold eyes and crooked smile, leaning against her car. As if he was celebrating his spoils of war.
"Mr. Gold," Regina said, voice even. "It's a bit chilly for a walk." The man met her steel, eye for eye, blade for blade.
"Sometimes I limp out here," he glanced down at the cane in his hands and smiled. "To watch nature. How it changes." He paused. "I find it fascinating." The side of Regina's neck prickled. "Don't you, Ms. Mayor?"
"I don't suppose you saw David returning to town," Regina said, staring deep into him. Willing him to crack. "With his daughter."
"That sounds like a heartwarming scene," he said. "I'm always glad to see happy endings." He let the challenge hang in the air for a second before adding, "I'm afraid the night grows darker, and I must be going. Until next time, Ms. Mayor." He gave her a nod. Then he turned on his heel, and walked away.
"Be careful," Regina called after him, hot lava bubbling in her ribcage. "The roads are slippery. You could fall."
Rumplestilskin didn't hesitate before calling back,
"So could you."
Regina's head was on fire, her fingers jittery on the wheel. It was quite a gamble, showing his face. Daring to come head to head with her.
She straightened, pushing the tension out. If he wanted to try his hand with her, why stop him? It was time to lay her cards on the table.
She pulled the phone from her pocket, dialing the number.
"I think it's time we advance Lacey's treatment."