I Do Not Own OUAT.
Chapter 8- Stay
"No."
David was blocking Mary-Margaret's path. She was holding a pink polka bag in one hand and running the other sensually up his covered chest. This made him weaken for a moment until he realised what she was doing. "Still no."
"It's just one night." The schoolteacher whined kissing him for the twentieth time in only five minutes. A record for them though, then again they had never had a disagreement over her leaving his and Phoebe's side on the eve of their wedding before.
She drops her bag down on the hardwood floor after breaking the kiss and links both arms around his neck. He rubs his nose against hers and inhales the scent of cinnamon burying himself lovingly in the crook of her neck. He knew this was coming, knew that after breaking and making so many traditions of their own she would want to keep this one. That she would choose to stay with his mother so that she would get the full motherly bridal experience complete with scheduled hair, makeup and dress done and fitted by Ashley and Ruby. He knew all this and yet, he hated it.
"David, I have to go. I can't get married with no Bridal Party HQ and this apartment. I just… know they'll have to hold me down to keep me away. And I really REALLY want to keep the dress a surprise." She says happily exasperated.
He pondered and pulled away to meet her gaze.
"We don't have to do this "Big Wedding" thing if you don't want to? I'd swap the church for a backyard ceremony any day as long as I was with you."
Mary-Margaret smiled and lightly grazed a finger over the fading scar on his chin causing him to close his eyes slightly at the delicate touch that was followed up by the most instinctual kiss she had ever given him. She slanted her mouth to feel more of him as he readily responded groaning for every minute their lips were joined.
"We're not eloping." She said breaking the contact with mutual dissatisfied sighs coming from them both.
He nods as she continues. "I love you David Nolan and I wanna pledge my life to you in front of everyone we love. Let me go."
There is no fault or hesitation in her argument he wants that too. More than anything.
"Tomorrow." David affirms against her as she uses her now free hand to pick up the overnight bag as he moves from the doorway.
She looks briefly over at the sleeping Labrador on the sofa smiling before returning her attention to her Fiancé.
"Tomorrow."
He closes his eyes again at the last parting of their lips,
She's gone.
…
The sunlight seeps through the window pane of Ruth's spare bedroom causing the bride to blink and yawn lightly stretching out her arms.
It's finally here.
She's marrying the man of her dreams today.
There's a knock at the door.
"Come in." Mary-Margaret calls.
The sight she sees next just melts her heart. Ruth fully dressed and ready carrying a tray full of continental delights. Cereal, Croissants, Mixed Fruits and Orange Juice with accompanying utensils a note and something in a pouch.
"Your wedding breakfast." Ruth beams setting it down in front of her soon-to-be daughter in law as the latter gestured for her to sit.
She complies.
"This is from me." Ruth says a little teary as Mary-Margaret unfurls the pouch to reveal a beautiful silver pendant.
"Thank you!" Mary-Margaret exclaims almost crushing the woman she loves as a mother.
"Oh my darling girl."
"What does it do?" Mary-Margaret asked curious.
"It's been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. If it swings north to south with nature it's a boy. East to west it's a girl."
"You're kidding." Mary-Margaret says with excitement
"No. Worked with both of my boys."
"Do you want to try it?" Mary-Margaret says with a grin.
They were both earning decent money doing well in their careers and to be blunt she hadn't taken her pill for the last two months or any other precautions.
This "baby" was wanted.
She watches as it swings and they both beam.
Their little secret.
"I'll leave you to it. "Mommy" The note is from him just so you know."
She devours the food and sets it aside picking up and unfurling the letter.
My Darling,
Today.
I love you.
David.
It wasn't possible to love him more until right now.
The shoes are comfortable.
Her shoes are stunning ivory silk heels.
The suit is smooth helped on by the best man.
Her dress is her own a sweetheart neckline with small diamonds and lace flowers. It's white for purity. The purity of her love for him Ruth assures as it's evident to the giggling bridesmaids who contrast in soft violet dresses just over knee length that she is no longer "Pure as the driven snow."
"Neither's he." She winks to be met by raucous laughter by Ashley, Ruby and to her complete surprise Ruth
There is no veil to hide her face
Only a bouquet of red roses to hold.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes." She gushes "Just give me a sec I need to use the bathroom."
"Are you ready?"
Shaun says buoying up his best friend as his mother places a kiss on his cheek.
"Yeah. I'm ready."
"You have the rings right?"
"Err…" Shaun jokes.
"SHAUN." Ruth scolds seeing the worry on David's face.
"You B…" He starts.
"David! House of God." Ruth says causing the priest to smile.
"Mom. How was she?"
"In love son, completely in love."
They were due to be married at ten.
She doesn't come.
A police officer does.
"I'm afraid, there's been an accident." She says to the groom and congregation.
The car they were travelling in collided with another vehicle. Injured and Story-brooke General are the only things he hears before Peter and Shaun follow swiftly behind.
This was supposed to be a wedding and now he might be arranging a funeral.
…
"Where is she?" David says to Ruby who is cut and bruised with Ashley sobbing hysterically as Shaun rushes to greet her.
"I'M SO SORRY IT WAS ALL SO FAST ONE MINUTE WE WERE DRIVING THE NEXT."
A look of horror crosses his face.
"Please tell me she's not."
"I don't know. She hit her head really badly and she was bleeding. Her dress there was so much blood. She's in surgery."
He runs to Whale but, Ruby catches his wrist.
"David there's something you need to know."
"What?!"
"She was screaming. The loudest I've ever heard her scream…" She sobbed.
"What? What was she screaming?" He says bereft.
"Save her."
"SAVE HER."
"Mare it's ok."
"No, NO NO! You have to tell him. Tell David no matter what I love him and he has to tell them to save her!"
"Who?"
She is being wheeled away urgently as Whale asks about a foetus? She was never any good at biology but, she knew what that meant.
"PLEASE SAVE MY BABY!"
He damn near collapses. He'd dreamed of the day he would hear he was going to be a father. He knew it would be soon from the way she was acting maybe when they took the surprise honeymoon to Paris he had so painstakingly planned but, not like this.
Not when he didn't know whether they would live or die.
Five hours felt like an eternity. He refused the coffee his mother gave him.
"She needs you to stay strong."
"I can't lose them Mom I won't survive it."
"Have faith. My boy." She hugs him.
The doors to waiting room open.
"Are they dead?" He asks walking like a ghost to the man who held his whole life in his prestigious hands.
"She's a fighter. They both are."
"OH THANK GOD!" Ruth and the girls exclaim having run to hear the news.
"It was touch and go for a while but, we managed to clear up the haemorrhaging and replace all the blood she lost."
"And the baby?"
"Good and strong for eight weeks. Congratulations."
"Can we see them?"
"I'm sorry relatives only for the first few hours."
"But, I'm not…" David started.
"Yes you are." Ruth interrupted. "She got it altered last week ready for… ready for today."
"You're her husband at least where this is concerned."
God she thought of everything.
"Go! Tell her we love her."
"I will." He beams
….
Beeping so much beeping and an annoying intravenous drip in her right hand with the left one being held gently.
She opens her eyes and gasps a little looking frantic and feeling the monitor on stomach seeing the symbol of a baby and green numbers increasing by the second with the accompanying noise of the heartbeat.
The tears that fall are the ones she held back the ones she did not have time to shed the joy she felt at the positive test she took during her "Emergency" trip to the bathroom before they eventually set off. The love she felt for the man waiting for her at the altar.
And then
CRASH
She sobs.
She sobs when she sees the sleeping man holding her hand so faithfully. He looks so peaceful and yet so handsome in sleep.
"I like daddy's suit." She whispers placing her right hand on her bump while her left strokes his hair.
She watches him stir slowly.
"David." Disbelief floods him as he touches her face like she's risen from the dead.
"Mary-"They cut each other off with a crushing kiss.
"You're ok."
"We're ok." She murmurs back as she takes the opportunity to kiss him at several angles as he pulls himself closer.
This is not where they imagined sharing such an intimate embrace but, after the day they have had neither of them cared.
"You gave me quite a scare Blanchard. You and Peanut."
"I'm so sorry!"
"This was not your fault." He kisses her firmly as if to prove it.
"You never did get to see my dress." She notes.
"I'll see it when you're better."
"Phoebe?"
"Archie is taking care of all the dogs for as long as we need. Said he had plenty of room and Pongo loves being with her. If you catch my drift."
"Our dogs are in love?"
"He's on puppy watch."
"You're kidding?"
"Nope."
…
An hour or so passes and he's snuggled beside her with a thick blanket between them.
"I really wanted to marry you today."
"You still can."
He looks puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"I spoke to the nurses while you were out getting me magazines. A very kindly priest by the name of Lancelot can marry us right about… Now."
"Hello."
"Hello!" David gets up and shakes his hand as it becomes clear his soon to be wife and mother of his child has another surprise.
"Mary-Margaret." Ruth, Ashley and Ruby Peter and Sean all exclaim hugging her gently.
"I believe you were all invited to a wedding…" David smirks returning to Mary-Margaret's side once again.
"No way!" Shaun says retrieving the gold and silver bands from his pocket and giving them to the giddy people.
Ruth nods in approval and Ruby gives her best friend a kiss for luck.
"Dearly Beloved. We are gathered here today in the sight of god and all these witnesses to celebrate the love that David and Mary-Margaret share."
Minutes later.
"Do you David Jacob Nolan promise to love, honour and cherish Mary-Margaret Blanchard taking her for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health forsaking all others until death parts you?"
He doesn't hesitate staring into her dazzling hazel eyes. "I DO." He kisses her hand as he places the diamond rimmed band on her finger.
"And…"
The priest stops seeing the look in the bride's eyes as she stares into the young man's soul.
"I DO." She places his ring on his bare finger.
"Then it gives me the greatest pleasure to now pronounce you HUSBAND AND WIFE. You may now kiss the bride."
He can't believe it she's finally his WIFE and he's going to FATHER! He almost forgets…
"AHEM!" Their loved ones announce.
"KISS THE BRIDE!"
"Yeah Charming, KISS THE BRIDE." Mary-Margaret puts a finger to her cheek.
"As you wish."
Everybody cheers and they cheer even more when they confirm Peanut's existence.
Or as her mother will call her. Emma.
AND BREATHE!
This chapter title is taken from the song "Stay" by Shakespeare's Sister I love the song and if you watch the video it's basically the OUAT Pilot about ten years ahead.
XXX