Snow wrapped the light sweater around herself as she walked down the hallway to the cell that was housing Rumpelstiltskin.

Emma wasn't here, thank Gods. Snow could at least talk to him for a little bit before they were interrupted.

Rumpelstiltskin looked up when she came in, "Ah! Finally, you're paying my bail!"

Snow scoffed, "No! You beat a man's skull in!"

"It was justified."

Snow saw the cup in his lap, "Because he took that?"

"Because Regina had him take this," he looked at the cup and clenched it in his hand.

"A cup endangered both of us and threw us in this mess?" she asked incredulously, "Really!"

"It's more than just a cup!"

"I should hope so with the reaction you had!"

Rumpelstiltskin was quiet for a few seconds. Snow noticed that he was holding the thing like it was more fragile than a baby,"Would you believe that I was in love once?"

That didn't surprise Snow, "You've certainly complained about true love enough for me to believe that."

He smiled bitterly, "Before you first approached me, I had a maid in my castle. She was…a princess before that. I talked her into coming with me to solve her problem with the ogres. She stayed in my care for a few months and…we fell in love. This cup was a moment of hers."

"Is she here?"

He stared ahead. Snow watched as his features hardened, "No."

Snow understood the implication immediately and lowered her eyes, "I'm sorry."

"I was foolish. I had her and I let her go because I couldn't be asked to choose between them."

Snow looked up, "Choose between who?"

Rumpelstiltskin gripped the cup, "She went home to her father and he, knowing what I was, tried to have her cleansed…the very old way of cleansing and she killed herself."

Snow drew in a sharp breath and felt herself drawing closer to Rumpelstiltskin, "And the man that you beat?"

"Is her father. Regina told him to come in and take the cup to see what I would do. I ….overreacted."

Snow shivered at his cold smile, "Elias Gold has no memory attached to that chipped cup."

"Indeed, he does not."

"So….she did it knowing that it would be against you and not him?" Snow asked and felt her voice quake, "Does she know?"

"She knows that I remember," He told her, "She doesn't know yet about you."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because you are still alive."

Snow felt the fear racing through her, "But it won't be long until…"

"No, it won't be."

Snow clutched her jacket close to her chest, "What do we do?"

Rumpelstiltskin smiled wryly, "Something crazy."

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What Rumpelstiltskin was suggesting to her was insane. The pitch he made, the reasons behind it…

It would never work. There were too many steps that had to go PERFECTLY right.

Well, that's the advantage dearie, Rumpelstiltskin had said, I've become a master of long cons over the centuries, if there's anyone that could pull it off, I could.

But to…what was it again? Take the fall for a disappearance turned fake murder that she did not commit? So it all led back to Regina when the missing person turned up? It was stupid, it wouldn't work.

Regina has her backside firmly on her throne and she won't move without a strong push," he had told her as she vehemently refused participating in something to stupidly complicated, in this world, I cannot wave my hand and make her go away, they need things like motive and evidence.

She had protested it was too dangerous. Too many things could get out of control and she'd be killed or the ruse would be discovered and Emma and Charming would lose faith in her. More than they had already lost when they found out the lengths she went to sometimes to manipulate them for what she thought was their safety.

Regina's mind is off me now, she got what she wanted. How long before it resets back on you and your family?

It might have been manipulation but he wasn't wrong.

Regina needed to be dealt with, but Snow didn't like the risk it had. Especially to Kathryn Nolan. She was innocent in all of this and she was the one that could get hurt the worst.

Then her entire viewpoint changed when David called her up after dinner and told her that Kathryn wanted to leave and go to Boston for a fresh start.

Snow wasted no time in meeting him as soon as possible, "What did you tell her?"

"That I needed to take a walk. Clear my head. Think about it."

Snow bit her lip. This was bad. He most certainly could not go to Boston because Rumpelstiltskin told her that bad things happened when people crossed the town border and she believed him. If she said nothing and he went….

She obviously couldn't let it happen; she had to fight to keep him here.

But what could she do? If she fought to keep him here, then it would put Regina on her scent and she'd know immediately. Or, at the very least…figure it out.

And then what did that mean for them?

"I'm guessing you didn't tell her that the walk was with me."

"No. No, of course not."

Snow felt the oncoming guilt. She had every reason to be with her husband, but not like this. Kathryn was cursed and had nothing to do with their fight and she would get hurt with them continuing what they did. She'd get hurt no matter what, "Why is that our default? Lying?"

"Because I don't-," he stuttered.

Because he wanted both of them and that was about to change, "We're not being honest. I know it's hard, but we have to tell her the truth about everything – about us."

"I don't know if I can."

Snow fought disgust, but she knew she'd be hypocritical if she looked down on him because these were the terms of the affair and she'd accepted it when they started sneaking around together, "You have to. If we can't be honest with other people, how can we be honest with each other?"

He stopped, "Is it really the best plan?"

"What's your plan?" She scoffed at the idea of the plan that most certainly could not happen, "Moving to Boston?"

"No."

She dug in with some manipulation of her own, "The only way no one gets hurt here, is if we don't want to be together. Is that what you want?"

"No."

"Well, then we have to stop hiding and do something. Its better she hears it from you than from someone else since we're not exactly being subtle about it as much as we could. You have to make a choice."

"I choose you."

Snow smiled, it wasn't Charming and she knew that but it was good to hear him say it after he broke her heart the last time he had to choose,, "Then, it's time to tell Kathryn."

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They told Kathryn and he left her to be with Snow, then Regina would know.

He left with Kathryn to go to Boston and hit the town border and died, Snow obviously couldn't let that happen to keep her cover.

If Snow did something to keep Regina busy however…by coming after her to keep the curse intact instead of figuring it out and coming after Emma and Charming…

Everyone was going to find out about the affair when they told Kathryn. Regina would retaliate, why not do it in such a way that it all came back to her?

But things could go wrong and Kathryn could get hurt.

But the risks were too great no matter what she did. Regina needed a distraction.

And this would save Kathryn's life as well.

Snow marched back into the jail for the second time today, Rumpelstiltskin was already lying down, "Oh dearie, I don't really fancy being in a cage after the one your family threw me into all those years ago, but I am rather enjoying this bed as opposed to the one your husband didn't give me."

"I'll do it."

He sat up. Snow wrapped her arms around herself and averted her gaze at the vicious look in his eyes, "Truly?"

"You just have to promise that you'll have a way to stay in control at all times and Kathryn doesn't get killed."

"Regina will have to think she's dead."

"I don't care; she lives."

Rumpelstiltskin shrugged, "Very well then. For this to work, you'll need to pay my bail."

"It's done."

"You work fast."

"I'm roommates with the sheriff; she's processing the paperwork now."

"Oh, is that why Emma breezed in and breezed out and only stopped to glare and mentally spit at me?" he laid back, "Wonderful then! We can get started in the morning."

Snow felt a feeling of dread creep up her spine and she turned away, "Yeah."

"You're doing the right thing, dearie."

Snow stopped, "The lesser of the evils doesn't automatically make it 'the right thing'"

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That stranger that rolled into town after Graham died was talking with Emma and he was flirting and Emma was flirting back.

Snow didn't like it. She watched as they talked outside for a few moments before Emma came in. Snow tried to look curious and not like she was digging a fork in her leg that this mysterious man was talking to her baby. (And he rode a motorcycle! That was not safe!) "Who was that?"

"I don't know yet," Emma shrugged out of her coat.

"Yet?" That got Snow's interest, "So, you're going to find out?"

"It's nothing," Emma waved her hand, "Do you think the waffles will be stale again today?"

"Nothing with you means something. Because if it were nothing, we wouldn't be talking about it."

"You asked first!" Emma protested, "I'm sorry – I thought you called me here to talk about you in a place that your husband couldn't overhear and make remarks?"

"Yeah, but talking about you is easier right now."

"Why you let him back in the house after what he did, I'll never know," Emma muttered and drank the coffee Ruby poured for her.

"Did you see him this morning?" Snow asked.

"Gone when I got up thank God, I don't think I could stand to hear any of his remarks. I don't even think I slept."

"He won't hurt you."

"Really? Because he seems to have a thing against people who slight him. I don't want to wake up one day with him trying to drive his cane into me," Emma stopped and paled, "You know what? Let's change this discussion… to something that won't…make me want to stab my eyes out, "What's going on with you? What's happened?"

Snow leaned in, "Remember when you told me to stay away from David and I agreed?"

"Yes," Emma trailed off, knowing exactly where this was going.

"I didn't," Snow admitted.

Emma smiled, "Yeah, I know."

Snow blushed, "You do? How?"

"Because I'm Sheriff," Emma reminded her, "and you are a lovesick school teacher. Covering your tracks is not exactly your strong suit."

"Well, I've been discre-," She stopped and lowered her voice, "Discrete."

"Two teacups in the sink, new perfume, late nights, plunging necklines. It was not hard to connect the dots."

Snow looked down at her shirt, it didn't even show cleavage. If Emma wanted 'plunging' she should meet Regina in her old clothes, "Plunging?"

Emma looked way too amused at this, "When I met you, you were a top button kind of girl."

"Huh," Snow felt a bit of pride for her daughter, "Why didn't you say anything?"

Emma scoffed, "I'm not your mother."

"No. Well, according to Henry, I'm yours," Snow muttered at the irony and took a sip of her coffee

"I just figured that you would let me know when it was time," Emma told her gently, "I'm assuming it's time."

In more ways than one. They were finally working towards something that could save everyone if it all went off without a hitch, "He's telling Kathryn."

"Everything?"

"Everything," Snow told her.

"I certainly hope so."

"And does your husband know?"

Snow nodded, "He figured it out."

"And what does he think about that?"

"He's…more or less agreed. We haven't…been the same since before you came to town. We haven't even had sex."

It was a lie, at least a little bit. But she didn't want her daughter to think that the marriage had somehow fallen apart because of her and she didn't want Emma spending the rest of her stay here believing that her mother had cheated on her father knowingly.

Emma's eyes widened, "He goes to your room!"

"I like the company. We talk about books and plans…and he sleeps on the couch"

"What about that one time when I came in to you and he…"

"A moment of weakness that never…took off," Snow blushed, "But any rate…it's over. He and I are over as a couple."

"How do you feel about that?"

Snow tried to push the guilt away, "Strange enough….sort of sad."

Emma looked confused, "'Strange enough?"

"One day I'll sit down and tell you all about the very strange story of how we got together."

"Not now though?" Emma sounded a bit disappointed.

"Probably sooner than you realize," Snow promised.

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David called Snow when the kids were being let out of school. She answered it a little too enthusiastically, "Hey. Did, uh… Did you do it?"

"Yeah," she heard the sadness in his voice, "It's bad."

Snow felt guilty for what Kathryn was going through, "I'm sorry."

"No, it was, um… It was really bad."

Snow nodded, "But you told the truth. So, now, we can pick up the pieces. We can start over from a real place."

Not as real as him being him, but at least it was something.

"Hey, I want to see you," he said suddenly, "Can I come by when you get done at school?"

"Of course! I'll see you then. And, David," she looked for the right words to say, "– you did the right thing."

Snow hung up and looked up towards the hallway. She froze when she saw a very angry Kathryn Nolan walking towards her. The words were stumbling out of her mouth in an instant, "Kathryn. I'm… I'm sorry."

Kathryn stormed up and slapped her hard across the face. Everyone immediately went quiet.

"Screw you, you're sorry," she hissed.

Snow put her hand on the stinging cheek, "I understand you're upset. You have every right to be."

"Thank you for that insight!"

"Can we…," Snow saw that everyone was watching them, Can we please talk somewhere private?"

"Private?" Kathryn scoffed, "Why do you get any consideration at all? You have shown none for me – either of you. All you did was lie."

"We should have talked to you sooner, but we've been completely honest. We didn't lie."

But even she knew that they had.

"You didn't lie?" Kathryn continued, "You snuck around. You had him break up my marriage with a pack of lies. With some crap about not being able to connect? He didn't have any trouble connecting with you."

Snow was beginning to suspect that she'd gotten led on too, "David didn't tell you about us?"

"No, of course not. That would have been the honorable thing to do," Kathryn spat.

"But, he said he would tell you."

"Well, then he lied to you, too. Good luck making it work. You two deserve each other."

Snow stood there shaking as she turned around and marched out.

Everyone was looking at her.

Snow, shaking, turned around and went to the front doors.

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Once when Regina was hunting Snow, she had pinpointed her location to be somewhere in the middle of the woods. Her solution to get Snow had been to try and burn her out. That fire…took 1/3rd of the forest, countless animals, and it had nearly taken Snow's life. It had spread faster than anything Snow had ever seen and even when she had stopped to rest, it caught up with her so fast that she had to move again.

The news about the affair spread faster than that. Everyone was talking about her now. They didn't even have the decency to hide it, they just started whispering and avoiding her on the street.

Even Granny told her she should be ashamed of herself and in normal circumstances, Snow would agree. She wouldn't be as…bold to say it, but she agreed

They didn't know the whole story, that's how she told herself that she could get past this humiliation. Their angry whispers, they're judging looks and names…

Someone took it to the next step; she found the word 'tramp' spray-painted in big red letters on her jeep. If that wasn't bad enough, Charming was there cleaning off the graffiti. David; the man that she risked everything for and he wasn't even completely her husband

"Who did this?" she gasped.

He dropped the rag in the bucket, "I don't know. I'm sorry. I don't know how any of this happened."

Snow scoffed, "You don't know? Really?"

David swallowed, "Mary Margaret, I can't control what other people do."

Snow scoffed, "No, but you can control what you do. And you lied. And, now, everyone is calling me a tramp among other things…. We were going to start a new life together. We had made plans…"

"Who told her?"

Snow closed her eyes tightly, "That is exactly the wrong question. The real question is, why didn't you do what we discussed? Why didn't you tell her?"

David stuttered, "I thought we could spare her feelings."

"Right –," Snow muttered, "You thought. Not 'we' – you. And we discussed this."

"I didn't want anyone to get hurt."

Did Regina curse him with stupidity and indecision as a means of taking everything that made him her husband? "Now everyone is hurt! We had an understanding. We had an agreement. But you not only lied to her, you lied to me."

David grabbed her hand, "Mary Margaret, please. Listen to me. If we want to see if… If this – if what we have – is love… We have to do what you said. You know, we have to pick up the pieces, and we've got to move on."

Snow pulled away. She wasn't going to pretend anymore, she was tired of pretending that this was what it clearly was not. He always said the right thing, she always believed him and he always broke her heart. That would always happen until Emma broke the curse.

Emma. Not her. She continued to be foolish to think that she could do something.

"David, this isn't love. What we have is something else entirely. What we have is destructive, and it has to stop."

"What are you saying?"

"That we shouldn't be together," she pulled away and walked down the street.

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Snow refused to let Rumpelstiltskin in when he came to knocking at her door later that evening. She didn't even call out for him to go away. She was just….too drained. She didn't want to talk to him. She didn't want to talk about her plans or his plans….she just wanted to be left alone.

He'd been right. She'd taken a risk and it blew up in her face.

Rumpelstiltskin respected her silence and went to his room.

An hour later, the door opened and Snow tensed as Emma came in. She quietly shut the door behind her. Snow hugged the pillow closer to chest and sniffled.

"You feel like talking about it yet?"

"Nope," she whispered.

"You want to be alone?"

Snow closed her eyes, "Nope."

The bed shifted as Emma gently lay down next to her and said nothing.