A/N: So sorry for the extremely long delay and a huge thanks to everyone for reading, following, and favoriting this story even though I haven't updated in forever! And, of course, thanks to the people who have been reading since the beginning. You guys are why I've decided to write a little bit in the middle of finals weeks just so you know I haven't abandoned you or this story entirely. College has been super stressful, plus I got a new job and internship and was doing NaNo all last month, so I haven't had much time for sleep, let alone writing. Anyway, I start my month long winter break on Saturday, so hopefully I'll be able to update a few more times. Comment and let me know if you guys have any ideas regarding what to do with the story! As always, none of the OUAT characters belong to me.
Her heart ached and with that ache came a pressure building from deep inside. The tears that she had tried so hard to keep at bay for hours, on top of the tears that she tried to hold back whenever she slept in her empty bed in this still-strange land, burst through the dam that she had so painstakingly built up after coming to this world. She could barely speak or breathe she sobbed so hard, leaning against the wall to keep herself from sinking to the ground in a muddle of abject loneliness and sadness.
She felt the warmth of Charming's arms as they wrapped themselves around her awkwardly and she clung to him automatically. He still smelled of forest and spice. "Don't cry." He begged her softly "Please. Whatever it is, it'll be okay."
"E-Emma." She hiccupped. Her tears were starting to taper off, soothed as she was by Charming even if he had no idea who she was. "My daughter."
"I'm sure Emma is fine." He assured her. Somehow they had come to sit side by side on the hospital floor with him stroking her dark hair, her face nuzzled into the crook of his neck. It felt as natural and comfortable as breathing—he felt little awkwardness though he knew it wasn't every day that people so intimately comforted strangers.
"I'm David." He introduced himself once her tears had subsided completely.
"S- Mary Margaret." She straightened up and wiped at her eyes, giving him a small smile. "I'm sorry for blubbering all over you."
David smiled back and shook his head. "Really, it's fine. I'm just…I was wondering. Do I know you? You seem so familiar." He flushed at the look that crossed Snow's face. "I'm not hitting on you," he assured her, misreading her expression. "I woke from a coma a little while ago and my mind is pretty much blank."
Snow opened her mouth to speak and paused. What could she tell him? What should she tell him? She had imagined so many different scenarios meeting Charming in the past few weeks since she had last seen him, but she hadn't imagined that he wouldn't know who she was. But he was asking now. She wanted desperately to tell him the truth—she was his wife—but she had no idea how to explain things from there. She was still terribly confused about it all herself, if she were honest.
"Mary Margaret Blanchard?" A woman's voice called, and she looked away from Charming to see a nurse standing in the doorway to Emma's room. She scrambled to her feet and over to the nurse, her nerves written all over her face. Her entire body relaxed as the nurse gave her a warm smile.
"Your daughter is fine. Just a sudden bug, common in newborns but it was a good thing you brought her in when you did. We've lowered her temperature and she's resting now, but of course you can come in and be with her." She glanced behind Snow and over at Charming. "Is this the father?" She asked.
"Yes." Snow whispered, too low for anyone to hear as she walked inside the hospital room to be by her daughter's side.