Later that week, David came home to a 'Welcome Home' party.

Snow's Mary Margaret had been asked to go. She'd been pressured to go. Dr. Whale was trying to get glory for claiming that he saved David and David had awakened on his watch. But it was a small town; everyone knew that it was Snow and Graham that had saved him. Snow didn't brag about it, she kept quiet, but people wanted to hear her side of things. Snow knew that'd be waiting for her if she attended the party.

She also knew that seeing her husband with another woman would be waiting for her if she went.

Rumpelstiltskin's warning of caution played in her head. Regina was supposed to be there too. Snow stayed home.

Emma went in her place though; Henry was supposed to be there. Emma had tried to play it off by muttering about free party food but she saw the growing want in Emma's eyes. She wanted to be near her son.

And if Emma could tell her anything about David, then Snow would be happy about that as well.

The time of the party came, and Snow tried to keep herself busy. She tried cleaning the house and organizing the things that weren't in the pawn shop that cluttered up the living room and back room. When that trying task was done (Rumpelstiltskin: I knew where everything was.), she took the birdfeeder and went outside, determined to finally get it up in the tree. Birds were sort of a Mary Margaret thing…but they were hers as well. It would be comforting to see them in the yard again.

Anything linking her back to her old life.

"Did you not get an invite?"

Snow tensed at the sound of David's voice. He snuck out of his own party? Snow couldn't imagine how well that'd go over if Regina noticed his absence and realized where he'd gone, "David."

But it was still so good to see his face when she could….heart wrenching…but good.

"So, I heard you resigned from the hospital," he climbed up to hang the bird feeder for her, "Was it me? Cause of what I told you? About how I felt about you?"

Snow averted her gaze. Be cautious…Regina wouldn't let this stand…

"Oh come on," he climbed down, "Don't tell me it's one sided.'

"We're married," she choked out. Whether she meant they were married to each other or other people, she didn't know. Maybe both in her own weird way. "It should be no side."

"'Should be' doesn't matter. Whoever married Kathryn wasn't me, it's not me. I didn't choose her. I'm choosing you. I know you feel it – I can tell."

"I'm married."

"And I know that the marriage isn't happy. Everyone's noticed it. They say you two are having problems…you two are a lot more distant now. Maybe the woman who married him is different too."

Snow felt her heart race in her chest. Did Regina know if 'everyone' knew?

"I-I know you think we have this connection," she started. Be cautious, be cautious, "But maybe it's because I happen to be the person who saved your life? So, why don't we leave it at that?"

She turned and went inside her house.

"Problems in paradise?" Rumpelstiltskin asked when she got inside.

"You saw that?"

"We have a lot of windows dearie," he told her and stretched out his bad leg.

"He wants…I don't know."

"He wants you to have an affair," his eyes held a jealous glint.

Snow shook her head, "I don't think so. I think he wants us to leave our current spouses."

"You know why that might be a bad idea, right now."

She nodded, "I know."

"Listen to me, Snow." He stood and followed her to the kitchen, "I'm supportive of your happily ever after with your husband, but this early in the game, it wouldn't be wise. It'll give her time to plot…to find a new way to hurt you. And with your daughter and husband and grandson around…you wouldn't want them to pay the price."

Snow grabbed the brillo pad and started scrubbing angrily. She wasn't angry at him, she knew he was right. David just made it sound so good to be true, "I'm not sure how much longer I can say 'no' to him."

"Figure out a way," he told her and then looked up when Emma came into the house, "Ah! Evening Sheriff Swan, I'll leave you two to it."

He put a hand her back and left. Snow didn't know if it was for show or because he truly wanted to make the friendly comforting move, but she didn't have time to ask.

"You might want to ease up," Emma said when the sight of her daughter made Snow scrub everything harder, "Or that brillo pad's going to press charges."

"Three people living here, dishes are piling up."

"This have anything to do with David stopping by?" Emma asked. When Snow looked up, started, Emma shrugged, "I" saw him sulking away as I pulled up."

"We just, Uh….he just…"

"Yeah, I know. You're both 'just'. And you did the right thing."

For survival, not morality.

"He made a pretty compelling case."

"Getting involved with another man when your marriage has problems isn't a way to fix things," Emma told her, "And he's still married. I know – I was just at the party."

Snow wanted to grill her for details, but that would seem desperate and Emma might not budge, "What do I do?"

"You need to stop cleaning," Emma told her softly, "And have a drink."

She went to Rumpelstiltskin's liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. The bottle had been opened. Rumpelstiltskin wasn't a drunk, at least he never got inebriated, but a night hardly went by when he wasn't drinking something.

"Here's the thing," Emma said and poured them both a drink, "I don't know a lot about relationships, other than having many that failed. But generally speaking, if you think something you want to do is wrong, it is."

Wanting to be with her own husband shouldn't be wrong.

"So," Emma continued, "You got to stay strong and he has to figure out his life. Cheers."

They clinked glasses together.

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Snow and Rumpelstiltskin went to the diner to have breakfast the next morning.

"Have you ever eaten dragon?" Snow asked.

"Yes," he told her, "But they're rare so I didn't get to eat much. It tasted like chicken…like a very…sweet chicken."

Snow had been asking him all sort of questions about the food he'd had over there He was the most powerful being in the world and he'd hinted to experimenting on some foods. It had made Snow incredibly curious.

She still wanted to eat dragon meat herself. Then she remembered the last dragon they talked about had been Maleficent and so the idea of eating a dragon lost its appeal.

"You know what I miss?" he said quietly, "Chimera."

"Chimera was disgusting," Snow muttered and ate her pancakes.

"Only to the unenlightened," he bit into his eggs.

"It tasted like stale spinach."

"Only to those that didn't know how to cook them," he gestured to her, "When I was at war, we were practically starving for a month…and someone killed a chimera and cooked it in such a way that could never be replicated."

"War?" Snow noted, "You didn't always have magic?"

He hesitated, "No."

"So, you were a man once."

"Once," he said quietly, "And afterwards….only in the places it counted."

Snow rolled her eyes at his lewd smirk. If he was looking to mortify her, it wouldn't work. She was a teacher to ten year olds and they weren't always so innocent, "Well then those stories are true, I suppose."

"Why? What do the other stories tell?"

"Everyone has a theory at what you were…or how you came to be that way. Some say you were born like that and were rejected from society and made a deal with the Dark Gods to wield magic and get revenge on those you think wronged you. Others say that you were a handsome spoiled prince cursed by an enchantress disguised as a woman selling roses. Others say you were born with magic, you were born bad, and your appearance slowly turned through the years to outwardly show the corruption of your soul."

He seemed interested, "What did you believe?"

Snow shrugged, "I never really thought about it."

He gave a frown and looked incredibly disappointed, "Fine, dear."

Snow looked at the paper folded between them and turned it over. David's picture was on there, it was talking about his return home.

"I'm quite a doctor, huh?"

Snow jumped as Dr. Whale came up behind her, "No way he wakes up on someone else's watch."

"Hello, Dr. Whale," Snow greeted tersely. Was he trying to take credit for it in front of her?

Rumpelstiltskin gave a glare. Snow wondered if he was acting, his Mr. Gold was always jealous of the attention that Whale showed Mary Margaret.

"So, I heard that you resigned from the hospital. I hope it wasn't because of me."

"Why on earth would it be because of you?" Rumpelstiltskin demanded.

"Because of how I…acted when he woke up and never apologized," Whale said slowly.

"You never apologized to my wife?" Rumpelstiltskin demanded.

"I know it wasn't classy, and I'm sorry."

"I believe that IS your motto."

Dr. Whale looked flustered, this clearly wasn't how he wanted this to go, "Um…I just wanted to apologize. Have a good day."

"Hm," Rumpelstiltskin gave him a condescending smile as he walked out. When he was gone, Rumpelstiltskin grabbed his cane, "I'll see you tonight, dear."

"You're not going to hurt him, are you?"

"Of course not! I'll just follow him around a bit. Remind him why it's not best to try and look down my fake wife's blouse."

"He was not."

Rumpelstiltskin just looked at her.

"Maybe not a lot," she admitted.

"I'll be back for dinner," he put his hand on her shoulder and for the benefit of everyone watching, so they didn't think there was anything wrong due to Whale, and they kissed. It wasn't a quick peck, it was a passionate (as much as both could muster) but closed mouthed kiss.

They'd gotten better at practicing.

It still felt weird.

He went out the back. Snow opened the paper and studied her husband's face. He almost looked like he was judging her.

"Mrs. Gold, may I have a word?"

Snow felt every single vital organ freeze when she heard her stepmother's sharp voice. They hadn't talked alone together since she'd awakened and even though she was surrounded by people, she was alone. She gave a nervous swallow "Of course."

Be cautious.

Regina sat down, "I wanted to talk to you about my friend Kathryn. But more specifically, I wanted to talk to you about her husband, David."

Snow tensed and glanced down to her knife. If Regina dared threaten him…."

"You don't belong together," Regina sneered. Snow bristled and felt herself grow angry, "He's not yours. He's taken. If your husband can't please you, find someone else."

David was ALWAYS hers.

"I haven't done anything," she told Regina angrily.

"Really?" Regina mocked, "So, he just up and left his wife on a whim?"

Snow blinked. When had this happened? "He did what?"

Regina tiled her head slightly and narrowed her eyes, "You don't know."

Snow managed a shake of her head. He left Kathryn? Where was he?

"Well, I suspect you soon will," Regina leaned closer, "So listen carefully, dear, because it's in your best interest."

Snow heard the threat.

"Stay away," Regina continued, "He's in a fragile state, he doesn't know who he is or what he's doing and you're this close to wrecking multiple lives. So, before you do something that can't be undone, let him remember who he was."

Regina got up to leave and Snow felt her heart sink.

She wouldn't be the one wrecking lives if Snow went to David. Regina would. People would get hurt if she went like this.

Snow stood, grabbed her purse, and headed for the back door.

She had to speak to Rumpelstiltskin.

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"He left his wife?" Rumpelstiltskin asked and put the closed sign up so he could speak to Snow privately.

She nodded, "That's what Regina said."

"Regina could be lying."

"What if she's not?" Snow looked up, "What if he did? What if he left her for me and this is my chance? I mean, Regina can't suspect I might be awake if he makes the first move, right? If I went to him…it'd just look like the curse was weakening to her."

"Who makes the first move or not and you being awake or asleep like the rest of them is irrelevant," he told her, "If she even thinks that you're headed to your happy ending, do you know what she could do? She could do anything she wanted."

"The rules are different here."

"She literally holds the sheriff's heart in her hands."

"Emma would know."

"Emma doesn't believe, her knowledge is limited."

Snow cursed and ran a hand through her hair, "Well, what am I supposed to do? Reject him?"

"To keep him alive and healthy? Yes."

Snow had seen an opportunity at her doorstep. She'd nursed the possibilities as she walked here but now that Rumpelstiltskin was shooting them down, she saw it was hopeless. Snow closed her eyes to keep the tears from coming and lowered her head.

Her husband wanted her.

She couldn't be with him.

Rumpelstiltskin looked genuinely apologetic to her, "Snow, I'm sorry."

Snow wiped a stray tear away and cleared her throat, "Don't be. It's not your fault."

He tensed.

But of course it was his fault. Snow knew he had something to do with all this, she just didn't know what or to what extent.

"I should go to work," she whispered, "I'm running late.'

"Snow-."

"I'll see you at dinner, I'll cook tonight" she told him with a frantic nod, she had to hold herself together, "It's not dragon, but…it'll serve."

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She was distracted most of the day, that seemed to be the case lately. Her chest ached with every heartbeat. It was worse now. Now she knew her husband wanted her and she had to say no.

Lunch, she tried to distract herself by going over the bills. She'd stopped at the house to get them. No one was home, thank gods, she didn't want to speak to Rumpelstiltskin right now.

"Careful," she heard her husband's voice when she used a letter opener to open the electric bill, "Looks sharp."

He leaned against the doorway, and the way that he looked at her…almost made her believe that her husband was kicking around in there somewhere.

But if he was here, then people would see. And if he was seen, then Regina would know…

And Snow wasn't sure she could stare into her husband's eyes right now and refuse him, "You can't be here."

"I….needed to see you."

Snow refused to look at him; she started placing workbooks on the desk, "Tell me you didn't leave your wife because of me. I do not want to destroy your marriage."

"You're not!" he argued, "It's me. I don't want to hurt her either, but the most hurtful thing to Kathryn would be me pretending."

The most hurtful thing to Kathryn MIGHT be him leaving. Snow wasn't so foolish as to think that Regina wouldn't hurt her just because they were 'friends'.

"She needs someone to feel about her the way I feel about you."

She finally looked up at him. It was almost him. It was so close, it could be.

She could say 'yes', she could leave with him. She could protect him…if they were together, that was a major blow to the curse, right? Since she was one of Regina's big enemies. Emma might even break it faster.

Snow shook her head, it was too risky, he'd barely survived last time, "I'm really trying hard to stay away from you. To do the right thing.

"Why is that the right thing?" he asked.

"Because you already have a life," she told him. One that he'd be safe in.

The bell rang and children started walking through.

"With someone I didn't choose," he told her, "The man who chose that life, whoever married Kathryn, is gone."

He never existed.

He wanted her. He knew there was a connection.

It was getting harder and harder to say no.

"You really have to leave me alone," she whispered and pushed him towards the door.

"Is that truly what you want?" he demanded.

She didn't answer him, "Go."

He grabbed the door, "Meet me tonight. At least think about it. I'll be at the bridge where you found me at eight. Think about it until then and decide. If you don't show, I'll know. And I'll never bother you again. But if you choose this – if you choose us – you know where I'll be."

I'll never bother you again.

This was her one chance…and if Emma failed then she could lose him forever.

Emma wouldn't fail.

But Snow didn't know that for sure. It'd been weeks, Snow had dropped tons of hints, and Emma was surrounded by what Snow thought should be proof and she hadn't budged yet.

Charming survived the curse. He pulled through the coma. There had to be a reason for it.

Maybe he was meant to survive.

Maybe by going to him, she was helping Emma weaken the curse enough to break it.

She needed to speak to her daughter. Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't hear of it if she went to him, but he was biased. He'd shoot it down but Emma would see both sides.

And maybe, subconsciously, she was hoping Emma would encourage her.

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The sheriff was in the way, Snow nearly trampled him, "Emma, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Graham realized this was a private conversation, "I'll just…go patrol my office."

"Thanks," Emma said.

Snow waited until he was in his own office with the door closed, "He left his wife. David – he left her. He left Kathryn."

Emma processed what she told her, "Okay, slow down."

"He did it for me! He wants me to be with him," And she so wanted to be with him, "He wants me to meet him tonight."

"That's uh…."

Snow wanted to finish, "I mean, I'm trying so hard to be strong, but he keeps coming. I mean, how do I stop it? You know, how do I let him down? What would you do?"

She waited for her daughter to shoot her down. To tell her not to go this route…because if Emma told her not to, she wouldn't.

"I'd go," Emma said quietly.

Snow blinked, "What?"

It wasn't until now that Snow realized she hadn't really expected Emma to encourage her.

"Well, he left her. It's one thing to say that he wants you, but it's another to actually make a choice and now, he has. That's all you can ask for."

Snow played with her engagement ring, "Given her new friendship with Kathryn, I don't think Regina would be happy."

"All the more reason to do it."

Snow could protect David. She had the advantage. Regina didn't know that she was awake. And she still had Rumpelstiltskin's alliance and Emma's.

And she could talk to David if they were together. He would listen to anything she said. She'd make him believe…she'd find a way to tell him the truth and wake him up. They could work on their relationship. They had true love; true love could break any curse.

All she had to do was go.

"Good Lord," Snow whispered, "Is this really happening?"

Emma gave a small smile, "You tell me."

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Snow wasn't home for dinner. Rumpelstiltskin knew she wouldn't be.

The allure of true love would be too much for her. She was waiting at the bridge for Charming.

Rumpelstiltskin couldn't judge her for the decision, not really. He'd have done the same if Belle were here.

He was sort of going to miss her. It'd been awhile since he had someone that trusted him like Snow did. And he was sort of going to miss sharing a room with her and being lulled to sleep with her snore.

Someone came into the shop, he ignored it. He wanted to finish repairing this table leg.

"Hello?"

Was that….no, it couldn't be…what was he doing here? His wife was waiting for him!

"Hello?"

Charming was here? Why? To fight over the same woman? David could have her! There was nothing romantic there for him. He just had to hear Elias Gold sit there waxing poetical about her eyes.

At the very least, he would have time to work on Emma without Snow's morality speeches for the limited time Emma would probably stay there without Snow.

David was examining Emma's mobile when he came in. His back was to him, he hadn't heard him come through. Rumpelstiltskin couldn't help himself, "Charming."

David turned around. There was nothing there, no recognition of the nickname Snow had given him, "I'm sorry?"

"The mobile," Rumpelstiltskin covered smoothly, "Isn't it charming? Exquisitely designed, masterly crafted…I can get it down, if you like."

"No, no. I mean it's…very nice, but actually, I'm looking for the Toll Bridge."

He'd found it once under the state of delirium…how hard would it be to find it again? Gods, he even had a map!

"The mayor said, there was a fork in the road by your shop, but-."

Regina led him here; she knew what Charming and Snow were trying to do. This was already a bad idea on their part, "It seems Miss Mills has led you astray."

Hadn't she, though.

"Yeah, yeah," David smiled obliviously, "You would think the Mayor would know her own town."

Regina sent David here for a purpose. She was expecting him to stop this before it happened. This might be a test, she wanted to see if he remembered himself…but there was something about this that told Rumpelstiltskin that he'd be showing his hand if David left here to go to the toll bridge for Snow.

"One would think," he said silently. This would break Snow's heart, but it had to be done to protect all of them. Regina knew what was happening. She sent David here for Rumpelstiltskin to fix it.

And they'd be endangering themselves if he didn't…he was a fan of true love after all. The real Rumpelstiltskin would let them get together. Elias Gold would fight to keep his wife.

He waved his hand and used what little magic he had left and used the objects he had in his shop as a conduit to enchant the windmill. This was best; this was for everyone's safety.

"Out the door, turn right, two blocks you'll find a trail. Can't miss it."

David smiled, acting like he wasn't even going to take Mr. Gold's wife, "Thank you."

He turned to leave and stopped when he saw the windmill behind him.

"See something you like?" Rumpelstiltskin asked casually.

"Where did you get that?" David stared at the windmill.

"That old thing? That's been gathering dust for….forever."

David spun the blades and watched it, "I think…..this belonged to me"

"Really?" Rumpelstiltskin asked and narrowed his eyes, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," David whispered like he was in a trance

It worked. A crisis was avoided. Snow, he, Emma, Henry, David and Kathryn were safe. What he'd done was almost heroic.

He gave a small smile. He'd done what he had to do. Just like he always did.

David never took his eyes off it, "I remember."

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Snow fiddled with her ring, the only ring on her fingers now. She'd removed the wedding bands that linked her to Rumpelstiltskin. It didn't seem right that she take anything of theirs with her. She felt weird just wearing Mary Margaret's clothes.

Things would change. She'd get better clothes; she could help support them with her teacher salary. There was a nice apartment they could rent together, Rumpelstiltskin would probably either let her have it for free or give her a discount. He couldn't hold this against her, could he?

She was going against him. Of course he would.

She looked up when she saw David come down the path. She smiled brightly at him and started forward.

"You came," he didn't smile back.

Snow stopped, something was wrong, "You sound surprised. In fact, you almost sound a bit disappointed."

He swallowed, "I remember."

At first she thought he was talking about how he remembered their true selves and she became excited. But he was too cautious, he wasn't coming to embrace her, there was nothing in his eyes that spoke of Charming.

And she knew, "Kathryn?"

He nodded, 'Everything."

No…no, she'd been so close. She struggled with the tears. He'd go back to someone he never had a past with, "And you love her."

"I don't know," he told her, "But I know I did. I remember how I felt and I think I have to honor that."

He didn't have to honor a nonexistent marriage that he thought was failing.

Snow grew angry, "And everything that you said to me-."

"Is true," he told her in an almost pleading voice, "I do have feelings for you – intense feelings. Feelings I don't quite understand."

"And you're going back to her," Snow said through clenched teeth.

"It's the right thing to do."

"The right thing to do," A tear slipped from her face. No, she couldn't cry, not in front of him. This wasn't her husband, "Was not to lead me on."

David lowered his eyes, "I know."

Snow looked down, "So, you've made your choice."

"I'm sorry."

"That's okay," she said in a faux soothing voice, "I guess it just wasn't meant to be."

Snow wrapped her sweater tighter around herself and turned her back to him and walked away.

She tried to be calm, but as soon as her back was turned, she let the tears pour down her face.

She'd been so close.

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Rumpelstiltskin was already drinking by the time Snow got home. And gods, if it didn't look tempting. What was a half bottle this morning was now almost empty. There was another full bottle waiting.

Her rings were sitting next to the bottles.

He turned, he wasn't drunk yet, but he seemed intent on getting there, "Snow, you're here."

"Yeah," Snow whispered, she realized he didn't seem all that surprised, but he had foresight, he probably knew this might happen. Or else, after seeing things like this for centuries, he probably knew, "Fear not, Rumpelstiltskin, we won't be exposed, I am still your wife."

She put the wedding rings on and poured herself a glass. She downed it on gulp. She would call in tomorrow. She didn't want to work. She wanted to drink herself so drunk that she forgot everything that hurt and spend the rest of the day in bed sleeping off a painful hangover.

It tasted like fire, and she finally sobbed and clenched the empty glass, "He remembers. He remembers all the wrong things."

Rumpelstiltskin stared at his half empty glass and then downed it, "I'm sorry, Snow."

Snow wasn't sure how much they drank after that. But finally, she just stopped, when one tumbler turned into three in front of her and she hung her head and started sobbing.

Was this what she was reduced to?

She felt Rumpelstiltskin's arm around her. She turned to him for comfort; there was no one else here who would. She was so tired…she was so tired of being useless and she thought that she could…do something and it'd blown up in her face.

It felt like she was in a dream. There were urges there and Snow just let herself drift. Her body moved and she didn't have control over it and she didn't care. She was just so tired of fighting; she'd been doing it for years.

And then she realized she didn't have control.

It was like being in a dream, and knowing you were in a dream…but not having the strength or will to pull away from it and wake herself up.

She slipped away and Mary took control, Snow watched as she reached out and touched Rumpelstiltskin's face. She watched as Mary kissed him. She watched as the same cloud that was over everyone else's eyes clouded over Rumpelstiltskin'sand she knew that he lose control as well. This wasn't her; this was Mary Gold kissing her husband. She felt Mary's love for him and it almost felt good…it almost felt soothing.

He kissed her so hard that her lips hurt.

Then Mary straddled her husband's lap and Snow started to get uncomfortable.

Elias's hand went to her thigh.

NO!

Snow forced herself to fight for her own body, she forced herself to wake up and take control. She gave a sob of relief when she got control, shoved Mary as far back against her mind as she possibly could and herself back from Elias Gold, "No."

Elias stopped. She saw the clarity in his eyes and knew that Rumpelstiltskin was in control again. She saw his face crumble and he looked disgusted, "Forgive me."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I didn't stop my personality and I could have," He muttered and almost looked ashamed, "I'm sorry."

Snow drew in a few deep breaths and watched her hands shake. That had almost been a very regretful mistake. She stared down into his large brown eyes, "Let's not…get drunk together anymore."

He smiled wryly, "That'd probably be a good idea."

"And we probably shouldn't share a room tonight.

He nodded, "That might be best."

"I'm sorry," she whispered again. This was her fault, she let her guard down and Mary took control and now she was humiliated.

At least she'd been able to stop.

The front door opened, "Mary Margaret, are you here?"

Emma came to the living room and then stopped when she saw them. Snow was still a bit drunk; she hadn't thought to remove herself from straddling Rumpelstiltskin's lap yet.

From Emma's position, it probably looked incredibly…wrong.

"God," Emma looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here, "Get a room, you two! I sit on that couch!"