Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time
AN: This is a sequel to chapters 5, 10, and 15. Ten years later, Mary's name is cleared when it's finally proven that she didn't kill her father. She returns to Storybrooke to finally face Regina and reclaim her father's legacy. But she doesn't come alone. She has her husband David and their nine-year-old daughter Emma.
Once Upon a Snowing
Home
Mr. Gold picked up that morning's edition of the Storybrooke Mirror and looked pleased by the headline.
Heiress to Blanchard Estate Innocent of Any Crime
It had finally happened. He had pulled the right strings and had once lone tracker and private investigator, Graham Humbert appointed as Sheriff a few years ago. Regina, who had claimed the Mayorship after Mary Margaret escaped police custody, fought him all the way. But in the end, he got what he wanted, as usual, and Sheriff Graham had finally proven young Miss Blanchard's innocence.
Of course, she wasn't Miss Blanchard anymore. He had made sure she and her then fiance, farm boy and shepherd, David Nolan had escaped to Canada. They had been living peacefully in Toronto as David and Mary Swan. But now, they would return, especially since the Mayor was now under investigation for Leopold Blanchard's murder. There was no proof yet, but he knew that charming little family would now return to see that justice was served. And then, they would help him get what he wanted.
The little yellow bug rolled into Storybrooke a few weeks later. Mary felt immediate nostalgia take over her, as she gazed up her home. It hadn't changed at all and she felt many emotions threaten to overtake her. She wasn't surprised when her husband reached over and clutched her hand, squeezing it gently. She looked over and smiled at him and then looked in the backseat where their precious girl sat, gazing out the window.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently. She nodded.
"I'm fine," she assured, as he parked the bug outside an apartment building.
Shortly after they left, they learned that Ruth had taken a generous offer and sold the farm. She moved to town and into a small loft apartment that Mr. Gold agreed to rent to her very reasonably. She worked in the library with Belle French, the young owner of it. They had managed over the years to get her letters and pictures through a friend that agreed to allow them to mail them Ruth under their address and name. But now that Mary was cleared of any charges, there was no need for that and no need to hide any longer. They were home.
Curiously enough, they would not be without jobs either. Mary would have her work cut out for her running against Regina for Mayor. They had managed to keep up on most things through David's mother and it wasn't good. Regina had a stranglehold on the town and had appointed corrupt people in positions of power. Graham's election as Sheriff a few years later had been a turning point and huge upset for Regina.
When the Sheriff had learned they were coming home, he had offered David a job as his deputy. Humbled and honored, David accepted.
David got out of the driver's side and grinned, as his mother stood on the steps of the apartment building, tears already streaming down her face.
"Mother," he said, as she threw her arms around him.
"Oh my boy…" she cried.
"We're home, Mother. We're home at last," he whispered, as she put a hand to his face.
"Hello Ruth," Mary said, as she came beside David, holding their daughter's hand.
"Oh Mary…" Ruth gushed, as she hugged the girl that she had once found in her sleeping in her barn. The woman that her son had found true love with. Finally, the tears came harder, as she looked at the small blonde girl beside Mary. She took in her features, seeing a perfect mix of both David and Mary in her.
"Hi Grandma," Emma said.
"Hello Emma," she replied tearfully, as Emma threw her little arms around the elderly woman. David and Mary smiled at each other and slipped their arms around each other's waists.
"Well...isn't this the perfect family portrait," a cool, unwelcome voice said. Mary stiffened and David squeezed her hip, letting her know that he was there.
"Regina," Mary greeted frigidly.
"I see you've finally come crawling out of hiding," Regina said.
"The truth always wins out and you're going to pay for what you've done to my Mary," David spat. But Regina simply smirked coldly at him.
"Don't involve yourself in things above your head, Shepherd," Regina spat.
"Actually Madam Mayor, you're looking at my new deputy. It would only be proper to address him as such," Graham said, as he arrived and handed the badge to David. Regina frowned. She didn't like this at all.
"I warn you both. You'll regret the day you stepped back into this town," Regina growled.
"We're not afraid of you and we're going to prove you killed my father. In the meantime, I'm running for Mayor against you so if I were you, I'd get ready for a fight," Mary growled back. Regina smirked and raised her hand, wanting so badly to wrap it around her step-daughter's fair neck.
"I'm going to destroy you...and your perfect little family," she hissed. But Mary only smirked. Regina could never destroy the love she and David had.
"Do your worst. In the meantime, I'm going to go visit Granny's and have dinner with my loving husband, our beautiful daughter, and my wonderful mother-in-law. You should run along home to your empty mansion," Mary spat. Regina glowered at her, trying to not to seem like those words affected her and stormed off in the other direction.
Mary sighed, as she was finally gone and leaned into David's embrace.
"Are you okay?" he asked. She nodded and smiled.
"I will be, after a wonderful evening spent with my family," she replied. He smiled and kissed her tenderly.
"Come on...let's go to Granny's," he suggested, as the four of them piled into the little bug. Regina was worrisome, but they knew that nothing could face anything as
long as they were together.