Every morning either Rumpelstiltskin or Snow got up to make breakfast. Rumpelstiltskin thought they made a very filling breakfast of eggs, hash browns, sausage, bacon…occasionally pancakes if they didn't have the time to make everything else…it was more than what Rumpelstiltskin ever had when he was a peasant in the village.

'Emma the Heathen' as Rumpelstiltskin had fondly come to mentally name her preferred cereal.

She was already hunched over eating it as Snow raced down the stairs and scrambled to put her things on, "I can't believe I overslept."

Rumpelstiltskin put his single plate on the table. Emma averted her gaze when he sat across from her. It'd been a couple of weeks and she was still furious at him for that whole 'fire in the town hall' thing.

If she knew what else he was capable of…

"It's only seven-ten," Emma told her, "You've got plenty of time to get to school."

"No," Snow pulled on her scarf and grabbed her purse, "I have to be there at seven fifteen – science fair. I'm helping the kids with their project before school."

Was that the best lie she could do? Henry could discredit that in a heartbeat.

Emma smiled in amusement, "I'm sure if you're five minutes late, they'll live."

Snow stopped and gave her an exasperated look, "We're making a volcano!"

She raced out the door. Emma gave another amused smile as she watched her leave.

Rumpelstiltskin was NOT anywhere close to feeling what Emma was about the situation. He had warned her about this! What if Regina saw her rushing to the diner?

"She's going to see him," Rumpelstiltskin spat out the last word.

Emma's smile fell, and she looked sympathetically at him, "I know."

Rumpelstiltskin lost his appetite; he stood up and grabbed his plate. He didn't need her pity.

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It was not stalking.

Snow told herself that it wasn't because her husband would want to be with her as opposed to the woman that he was living with. It should be her in that car, not that woman that he never wanted to be married to in the first place.

Well, out of context, it sounded stalkerish.

Snow booked it in record time to the diner and made herself comfortable. She sat facing away from the door so he would see her when he turned around (Otherwise, it would look like she was waiting for him), she threw her book down on the table and used the spoon to check her hair. There wasn't really that much she could do with it. Rumpelstiltskin would balk if she spent longer than him taking care of it and he'd NEVER let her hear the end of it.

Though her short hair was easier to take care of….

Snow stared at the pages of her book and pretended she was reading as the door opened behind her.

7:15, without fail.

She watched him greet Ruby and order his coffee. Gods, she missed him so much. She missed the way he looked at her…and the way he smiled at her. She missed the way he held her and listened…

None of that felt right here. It wasn't the same. She even missed that stupid snore that he did that used to keep her up. Rumpelstiltskin slept on the couch on his back and never snored.

"Good morning."

Snow felt her heart hammer in her chest as she realized the husband that she was supposed to be married to was now looking at her. All mental functions stopped and she managed a beaming smile, "Morning!"

Gods, she felt like a lovesick teenager with a crush.

"I-I ….I should go. I'm going to be late for work," David looked to the door.

"Oh," Snow pretended she was trying to remember, "The animal shelter, right? How's that going?"

"Well, the apes haven't taken over."

Snow could practically hear Rumpelstiltskin saying that the only reason that hadn't happened yet was because David lacked the will or ambition to do so. She pushed his voice to the back of her mind, "Yet."

"Not on my watch."

It was a bad joke, but she laughed anyway. She hadn't seen him since the election, it was good to see his face and hear his voice.

Even if it wasn't the same.

Snow watched and felt her spirits sink as David handed a coffee to his wife waiting in the car and kissed her cheek.

"This is making a volcano?"

Snow looked at her daughter. Didn't Granny ever LOCK that back door?

"I was-," she struggled for something to say.

"I get it."

Snow realized there was no justification that she could use that Emma would buy, "He comes here every morning at seven fifteen a.m. to get coffee."

"For him and his wife," Emma gently reminded her.

"I know, I know, I know," Snow said and looked back, "I just like to…come here to see him."

"So, you're a stalker?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, not really," Snow faltered, "Maybe a little bit. I mean, it's not like I'm following him. I just know that he spends his mornings with Kathryn, gets coffee, then drives to the animal shelter to start work at seven thirty and then he's home around five."

Gods, she walked right into that one.

Emma let a minute pass so Snow could realize just how desperate that sounded, "Oh, is that all?"

"Thursdays they pick up Chinese for dinner," she finished. If she was going to look insane, might as well go all out, "I just can't get him out of my head."

"I know," Emma said in a way that told her she was speaking from personal experience, "Maybe the first step is not showing up here tomorrow."

It would be better; he would be safer that way.

But she just wanted to see him

"Maybe," Snow looked over her shoulder and watched him drive away.

"Work things out with your husband," Emma encouraged her, "Avoiding those problems by looking at someone else that's already married and already choose his wife is just going to cause you nothing but problems."

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Snow walked from aisle to aisle and loaded up the hand basket that was in one hand and held the phone with the other. Jefferson chatted to her about all the gossip going on in the town and what he'd seen through his telescope.

Snow didn't mind. Jefferson wanted someone to talk to; she was the person that offered that.

Snow saw some large chocolate Apollo bars, "Hey."

"Darn it, Snow, I'm telling you about what embarrassing things Regina does when she's sleeping!"

"You want some candy?"

"Like what sort of candy?"

"I'm staring at Apollo bars."

"Get me some! I'll pay you back!"

"How many?"

"All of them."

"I'm not giving you all of them."

"I'll pay you back."

"I'll get you two," Snow put them next to her two, "Chocolate isn't good for your teeth."

"Not aging for 28 years and knowing what's going on isn't good for my mentality, I think I've earned the chocolate."

"If you want all of them, come to town and get them yourself." She told him.

As they were snarking at each other, Snow circled the aisle and accidently ran face first into someone. Both dropped their things, Snow bent down and started collecting the things on the floor, "I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," Snow realized she'd walked right into her husband's fake wife, "It's fine. Don't worry about it."

"I wasn't looking," she whispered.

Regina had been standing next to Kathryn and watched both of them without bothering to help, "Clearly."

Kathryn picked up the chocolate, "Oh, is this yours?"

"Um, yes, thank you," She picked up a small box without looking at it, "Um, this must…."

She looked down and felt her blood run cold. A pregnancy test.

Regina was watching her; she had to not freak out.

Kathryn was pregnant?

With David's baby?

What did that mean? Was Emma going to have a half sibling? What would it mean for that child if it was born in the middle of all this?

Snow stuttered and tried to find something to say, "G-good luck?"

Kathryn gave her a genuine smile, "Thank you."

Kathryn checked to make sure she had everything and left. Snow felt her legs shaking as she stood up. She couldn't give anything away…not in front of Regina.

Regina leaned forward, "I trust you'll be discrete? Their lives are their business – not yours."

Snow felt herself shaking. This was what Regina wanted, anything that might set Snow and Charming back, she wanted.

Snow found her phone under the aisle and picked it up.

"Snow? Snow?!"

"Jefferson," she said a bit more quietly.

"Snow!" he said in relief, "Are you okay? What happened?"

"Can you use some company?"

"You know I would."

"I'm coming over," she hung up.

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"She's pregnant?"

Snow kept her hands clenched in tight balls in her pockets, "Maybe. A test is a test, there's no way of knowing."

"But she MIGHT be pregnant?" Jefferson asked.

"Is it possible?"

"Why are you asking me for? Ask Rumpelstiltskin…." He caught himself, "Oh wait, that might be awkward; asking your fake husband if your real husband can knock up his fake wife."

Snow scowled, "Jefferson, this isn't funny!"

"Who said I'm joking? That's the situation you're looking at."

"Don't say it like that."

"Listen Snow, I've looked through the telescope a hundred times a day for 28 years and have nearly gotten an eyeful because people don't close their shades," He gave a pointed look to her, "The curse is weakening…there's no reason conception would be impossible if we're aging again.

Snow stared ahead at the road they were walking down, "What if she is?"

"Could you love that child?"

"Yeah. I at least know everything a stepmother isn't SUPPOSED to do. It's just…helping to raise another baby when I never got the chance to raise my own? I mean, what would that mean? How would Emma take it? It's not fair to her, none of this is fair to her and she'd have to see a half sibling get raised in love that she never got growing up. "

"Well, if she wants good memories, there's no reason why she can't just make her own. It's not too late for bonding, it can't be."

Snow heard something down the incline and stopped.

"Snow?"

"Sh!" she heard something that sounded like a bird cooing. She walked off the road and found a dove trapped in some plastic netting.

"Oh hey." She whispered and carefully freed the dove, "How did you manage to get yourself…come on – it's going to be okay."

"How on earth did you hear that?" Jefferson asked and held out his hand.

Snow grabbed it and with his assistance climbed up on the road.

"I don't know…I've just always had…this thing with birds."

"So, I'm guessing that'll be a 'no' for using it for dinner, then?"

Snow kicked him. Not hard but hard enough for him get his answer.

"Ow!"

"I'm taking it to the shelter!"

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There wasn't a line at the animal shelter, they could see the dove immediately. Snow was surprised that Regina thought far enough ahead to bring pets.

The vet looked the dove over, "Well, the good news is; no broken bones. She was just a little dehydrated, but I got her some fluids so she should be fine."

Good news always came with something opposite, "And the bad news?"

"Well, this is a north Atlantic dove. It's a migratory species. Very unique among American doves. They tend to form strong, monogamous bonds, meaning-."

"If we don't get her back to her flock, she'll be alone forever," Snow whispered. How very symbolic of what she was going through right now. Or at least felt like she was going through….

"Well, it's a long shot, but the alternative," the vet put her in the cage that he had David fetch. David hung around, Snow tried to ignore him because it was…just too painful right now, "She'll heal, but she won't be happy here."

Snow had to let her go before that bad storm came, "I'll take my chances. Thank you, doctor."

"You're welcome. Good luck."

Snow turned to the door.

David followed her, "Mary Margaret, there's a storm coming. You shouldn't go out there."

"Well, the storm's coming tomorrow," Snow told him. Everyone in the little family of theirs was looking forward to a nice relaxing day indoors where it was warm. She had to get this bird free before the rain drove all the other animals to seek shelter or find warmer places, "If I wait, she could be lost forever. Completely alone. No one deserves that."

She tried to brush past him.

"Then let me drive you."

"I don't need your help, David," Snow snapped, "I'll be fine."

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Jefferson was a lot of things, Snow had found out; musician, artist, gardener, sarcastic protector, and eccentric dresser…

He was not, however, a bird watcher. And so Snow realized she'd have to find some random place to set this dove loose and hope for the best.

There was the cabin in the middle of the woods; Snow drove the dove until she came up on the 'road closed' sign that was always there. When Snow and Rumpelstiltskin were cursed, they'd come up to this cabin…but the road that led to the cabin took longer to get to, this way was shorter.

The clouds were gathering, it was getting colder…that storm wasn't waiting for tomorrow. She at least hoped Rumpelstiltskin and Emma were going to make it home before it hit.

"Well," she whispered to the dove, "The flock can't be much farther. We just have to beat the storm. They're waiting for you."

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Snow didn't realize how long this 'shortcut' actually was. It wasn't until she was walking that she realized she'd never actually GONE this way, she just knew it was there.

The storm was getting closer; Snow didn't have a lot of time.

She found the small road that led to the cabin and started walking down it; it led to a sharp cliff if she wasn't careful. But she could see things clearly; she could almost see the forest.

She heard the cooing nearby. Somewhere down the cliff.

"Do you hear that?" she asked the dove, "Your flock!"

She strained to look in the direction of the noise.

A loud clap of thunder startled her. Snow jumped and the mud she was standing in gave way. Before she knew it she slammed into the ground and rolled down the incline.

And then she was falling freely.

Snow felt her stomach fly up to her throat and she grabbed a branch. She slammed against the cliff wall and looked down.

It was really far down…and her grip was slipping…

Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!

She tried to climb up the branch…but the weight made the branch start to splinter, and Snow fell even further down.

There were footsteps above her. Snow looked up expecting to see Jefferson.

David appeared, "Here!"

"David!" Snow said in shock and relief.

He held his out his, "Grab my hand!"

She grabbed it. His strong hand closed on hers and he pulled her up, "Hold tight, come on."

He pulled her up. Snow pulled herself on the incline and drew in some terrified breaths. Her whole body was shaking, she wasn't sure she could hold herself up.

David looked at her, "You'd really think I'd let you come out here alone? You okay?"

Snow pulled herself up, "I'm fine, thanks."

She raced up the incline when she felt the water droplets start to hit her face. It was pouring when she got back on the road, "No!"

"Doing this on foot is not the best plan!"

"The gate was closed!"

"I know. I saw," he tried to pull her away, "It's too late – we have to go!"

"No," she turned back around, "But the fl-."

"Mary Margaret, it's not safe!" he pointed to the place that she fell, "We need to get out of here! Come on!"

He pulled her towards the cabin, Snow gave up, the rain was freezing, she wanted to get out of it as soon as possible.

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"There!"

Snow was shaking so hard that her teeth were chattering. The temperature was dropping and it was so very cold outside.

David pulled her to stand under the patio roof. The bird wasn't doing any better than Snow was. She watched as David looked in through the window, "It's ours David, it's empty."

He kicked in the door and ushered Snow in. She set the bird down and watched as he got a fire going.

Every weekend she and Rumpelstiltskin spent here in their cursed lives…every weekend they'd make love on the couch and then go to the bed in the other room.

She shivered, and that time it wasn't from the cold.

David wrapped a blanket around her, "Okay, let's get you dry."

She shrugged it off and stepped closer to the fire, "Don't."

"Hey, I'm just…I'm trying to help. What's going on with you today?"

"What's going on? What's going on is that I still have feelings for you."

David stared at her, "What?"

She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to but she knew it was insane and he'd never believe her. However, with him being here by himself, it was almost too tempting, "Why do you think I go to Granny's every morning at seven fifteen? It's to see you. I don't even know why, because it makes me miserable. Because every time I see you, it just reminds me that you chose Kathryn instead of me. And that's why I didn't want you to come to the woods with me. Because being around you is too…it's too painful."

David broke into a smile.

Snow felt hurt, "You think this is funny!"

"No, no," he told her quickly, "It's just…the reason I go to Granny's every morning at seven fifteen is to see you!"

He kissed her. Snow let him for a brief moment…just to feel her husband again…

But he didn't kiss like Charming…he didn't feel like him.

Snow pulled away and backed up; she needed to get some distance, "How can you do this?"

"What are you talking about?"

Snow scoffed, "David, I know."

"You know what?"

Snow didn't want to play this game, "About Kathryn."

"What about Kathryn?"

Oh, was there something else that she should know about? "That she thinks she's pregnant!"

David looked like she'd punched him, "What?"

They stared at each other as the rain pounded outside; Snow wasn't sure how long it'd taken, "You didn't know."

"No."

Snow felt a little bit hopeful, "And you two aren't trying?"

"Not as far as I know."

That should give Snow relief, but 'we're not trying' could mean several things. They might not be sleeping together at all or they might be and he was trying to be careful.

"Mary Margaret, you have to believe me. I-."

Snow realized that it was too quiet. The rain had stopped.

"Shh," she told him, "The rain's stopped. We need to get her out."

She grabbed the cage and walked outside. She was still cold and she was still shivering…and the temperature hadn't risen any. Snow needed to get home and get out of her clothes and slip into a hot bath.

"Mary Margaret," David followed her, "Please. Can we at least talk-."

"Shh!" Snow whispered again. She didn't know why she was obsessed with this…probably because she saw her own self in what this dove might go through, "Listen!"

They heard a cooing noise; Snow looked up and saw several doves.

"The flock," she said triumphantly, "It didn't leave!"

David stared up as well, "They must've been waiting for the storm to clear."

Snow lifted the dove out of the cage, "Okay. Okay, girl. Time to join your friends. You can do it."

She realized the dove and watched as it flew off to join its flock.

David grabbed Snow's hand. Snow snatched it away. She couldn't…any chance or hope of his attention was gone for now. David Nolan would never leave Kathryn if he thought she was pregnant. She'd have to wait until the curse broke and gods knew the sort of drama this would invoke, "No David. It's too painful."

"It doesn't have to be. We don't know if Kathryn's pregnant."

No, Snow couldn't set herself up for false hope like that. She did when he told her he was going to leave with her. And if the curse was meant to partially make her unhappy then he'd always choose Kathryn, "It doesn't matter. You chose her."

"I know, but I still have feelings for you."

Snow shook her head, "You can't have both."

"But I do have both," he said and that declaration made her sick to her stomach. He couldn't have her if he had Kathryn. Just like he couldn't have Kathryn if he had her. What was he thinking? That they'd be okay with sharing? "I know…I know it doesn't make sense, but it's like I have these two conflicting lives. Memories of feelings for her, and real feelings for you."

"Who's to say which is real?" Snow asked sarcastically.

"I can't get you out of my head."

"I know," Snow allowed, "Me too. But we're going to have to. We're just going to…have to forget each other."

She walked past him.

"Mary Margaret!" he called.

Snow looked back, "You can't have both!"

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Snow was already curled up in the bed when Rumpelstiltskin came into the room that night. She kept her eyes closed and made sure her back was facing him.

"It's still storming out."

"They say it'll carry on until the morning," she stared at the wall.

He lay the bedding down on the couch, "Your daughter is asleep. Apparently they weren't prepared for the early stages of the storm today and she was running all over. She just got in an hour ago."

"Oh."

He sat on the couch and gave a sigh, "And how was your day, dear?"

Snow closed her eyes to fight the tears, "Oh, you know…curse stuff."

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Snow sat at the dining room table and stared at the ticking clock. Emma was sitting across from her; Rumpelstiltskin was sitting on her right. She'd eaten some of her breakfast, but not much. Emma had apparently given up on cereal and desired a warmer meal to start her morning; she was eating what Rumpelstiltskin cooked. He thought it was a truce, Snow figured that Emma was just hungry.

The clock hit 7:15. Rumpelstiltskin noticed it and squeezed her leg under the table as a means of comfort that only they understood. Emma was more forward. She looked over her shoulder to see what time it was and when she realized that Snow was staying later than usual; she reached over and took her mother's hand.

Gods, they were such an odd little family.

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Snow waited thirty minutes before she summoned the courage to go to the diner to get her coffee

"Bit later than usual," Ruby told her.

"Yeah, new schedule," Snow took a sip, "Thanks Ruby."

She went to leave.

David was standing in the entrance.

A beat passed as they stared at the other. Without a word he turned and left.

No, he went to get his coffee at 7:15! This was HER time to get her drink.

She followed him out, "What are you doing here?"

"It's seven forty-five!" he snapped.

"I know!"

"I'm trying not to see you."

"Well," She searched for the right words to say, "I'm trying not to see you!"

David looked defeated, "How do we stop seeing each other?"

Snow closed her eyes.

I will always find you

"Apparently, we can't," she whispered. It would always be destiny; they would always find each other even when it hurt.

"This is a problem," David muttered.

"Yes."

A second passed.

David drew a breath, "She's not pregnant."

Snow let that sink in.

She wasn't pregnant.

Kathryn wasn't pregnant.

Snow rushed for him and slammed her lips against his. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest.

This was stupid, this was risky. Kathryn was friends with Regina. If she found out…

But they could hide it…they could be smart.

Snow needed this…for now, it was good enough.