AN: Thanks for the incredible response to this Snowing story! See previous chapter for important authors notes on characters and story notes.
Important note: Milah is not Neal's father in this universe. Cora is I've taken some liberties again with characters and back stories. :)
Special Note: The character of TJ Morrison is a Manifest character. The characters of Nick and Greta Branson are based on Hansel(also known as Jack and Nick Branson) and Gretel from Once season 7. The character of Isaiah is a Manifest character.
Another Note: As we get further into season 2 and season 3, I will be focusing more on the major Manifest plotlines and not so much the minor ones that involve one offs with passengers, in addition to the original plots I have created for this story. Season 4 will be premiering soon and once I see what I'm working with, I'll make a decision if this story will be going with a Manifest type ending or if I have to move to more of a Once ending. Most of you that watch Manifest know that (spoiler alert) that Margaret's counterpart character in the series, Grace, dies at the end of season 3. I will not be doing that with Margaret. Either way, when the time comes, I will give this story a satisfying ending that may or may not match the series. :)
This one will update bi-weekly on Sunday nights now. Please consider leaving a review, it is much appreciated. Thanks to those that reviewed the last chapter:
Ghostwriter: Yep, things are a bit intense. Glad you're enjoying.
Grace5231973: Thanks, glad you're enjoying it!
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks
Sexystarwarslover: Yeah, that will be interesting when she finds out her own mother is in cahoots with the Black Fairy. Yeah, Jace is out of control. Yeah, Killian was not expecting that. Yeah, I thought it was more fitting if David and Margaret escorted her down the aisle. Yeah, the wedding will be a nice distraction from what might be coming for Neal. Yeah, Retro video games is way fun for a bachelor party. Yeah, the Major is definitely trouble. Glad you're enjoying it!
AnonSnowing: Yep, TJ is alive and thankfully, Emma got out of that bad situation. Glad you're enjoying.
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 77: Call Sign, Pt 2
Emma looked at her reflection in the full length mirror. Margaret had picked out a beautiful dress for her and she looked stunning, however, she had never been more nervous.
"Were you nervous at all on your wedding day?" Emma asked. Margaret smiled.
"I know that everyone said I would be…but no, I wasn't. I couldn't wait to make it official. It was mainly for everyone else. David and I already felt married long before we went to the altar," she answered.
"Yeah…you guys are not the typical example," Emma said.
"It doesn't mean that you and Neal don't share an amazing love too," Margaret replied.
"You're right…you and my brother are just weird," the blonde teased.
"Haha…but yeah, probably," Margaret agreed.
"In a good way," Emma assured her.
"Everything is going to be fine," Margaret said.
"What if it's not? What if he dies tomorrow?" Emma asked.
"He's not going to. The Callings have done so much good. We're going to follow them and it's going to save him," Margaret replied. A shudder of fear rippled through Emma. How did she even begin to tell them that she had defied a Calling? And that those very dangerous men that should be dead now, had she done as the Calling asked, might go free at trial. She shook her head and pushed those terrifying thoughts away. If she focused on that, she would lose her mind and Neal needed her. They were getting married and she was going to be happy. Margaret was right. The rest would figure itself out.
Gold helped his son straighten his tie and looked at him wistfully.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"No…just anxious for the ceremony to start. I can't wait to be married to the woman I love," Neal replied. He didn't add the even though it might be for only one day, but the
possibility of that hung in the air around them.
"I'm very happy for you, my boy," Gold said.
"Thanks Dad…glad we're a family again. Didn't think that could happen," Neal replied.
"Me either…but it means the world to me that you have forgiven me," Gold said, as they shared a hug.
Olive looked at the house, decorated with all the pomp of the wedding, and smiled.
"It's like a dream…it's amazing," she mentioned, but noticed that TJ seemed to be a million miles away. She sighed.
"Okay TJ…what's going on with you?" she asked. He sighed.
"I'm leaving," he said and she looked shocked.
"A few weeks ago, I applied for a grant to study in Egypt. And it went through," he explained.
"Egypt?" she questioned.
"Look, coming back on 828, not dying in the nightclub fire…I survived twice for a reason," he said.
"Yeah. To live your life," Olive argued.
"But it's more than just that. I think I'm still here to find out what the Alzarus book means. And maybe I'll find a clue about the Death Date," he said. She scoffed.
"I'm sorry, Olive," he said, as tried to comfort her, but she pulled away.
"Please, I don't...I can't do this. Not now," Olive said, as she walked off.
"Good of you to come, Killian," Ruby said, as she handed him a glass of champagne.
"Anything for Emma," he replied, as he looked around. He couldn't help but think that this should have been for them.
"For what it's worth…I'm sorry. I know you still love her," Ruby said.
"It's fine…it just didn't work out for us," Killian replied.
"Yeah…it's not awkward or anything," Ruby joked. He smiled.
"Yeah…" he agreed.
"I think I may need something stronger than champagne," he said.
"I'll see what I can do," she replied, as she went to find him some hard liquor.
"Are you ready?" Margaret asked. She nodded.
"As ready as I'll ever be. I just wish I knew I was doing the right thing…that stopping his treatments is okay and that the Callings will save him," Emma replied.
"I can't answer those questions, but I know respecting what he wants is the right thing," Margaret replied.
"What if it was David asking this of you?" Emma asked. Margaret took a breath.
"Then I would be a mess…but being with him every moment would be my priority and I would have hope to the very end," she said.
"All good things, Emma. I spent almost six years without him…but something brought him…all of you back. Whatever it is…it's good," she promised. Emma smiled.
"All good things," she repeated, as they exited the bedroom door where David was waiting for them in his tux.
"Ready?" he asked. She nodded, as they hugged her between them.
"This is a happy beginning…not an end," he promised.
"You have no idea how much I hope you're right," Emma said, as they led her into the living room for the main procession.
The moment he saw her, he felt like he couldn't breathe. As Ruby returned with some rum, he handed her the glass of champagne.
"I'm sorry…tell Emma I'm sorry. I can't do this," he said, as he fled the scene before she could see him. He got into his car and put it in gear, driving off, unaware of the van
parked outside the Nolan house with the three escaped convicts.
David and Margaret walked Emma down the aisle and they met Neal there, before the Holy man. They each kissed her cheek and then took their seats in the front row.
Margaret smiled and took the baby from her father-in-law, as the ceremony began.
"We've gathered today to witness and affirm the choice Neal and Emma have made to stand together as partners in life. And they have written their own vows of commitment
to one another," he began, before looking at Neal.
"Emma… we'll never have enough time to do everything that we want, to create all the memories we'd like, but having you believe in me, care for me, love me has been the
greatest gift of my life. And I vow, however long I'm privileged to be your husband, to fill your world with all the love you deserve," he promised. She smiled.
"Neal, I want to be the best wife that I can be, which to me means I will stand beside you, loving you and supporting you in whatever choices you make in your life. I will
never give up on you. And I will fight for your life... our life together for as long as we both shall live," Emma said. The minister smiled.
"By the power vested in me by the state of New York... I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," he announced. There was applause, as they kissed
and their marriage was official.
The reception followed and several dances were shared, before Emma found her way to her brother.
"MM says you had cold feet for a minute there," he said.
"Do you ever not tell each other things?" Emma asked. He smirked.
"No…and it makes for a great marriage," he replied.
"Yeah…for a minute there, I wondered if I was doing the right thing, but MM reminded me that following Neal's wishes would always be right. All good things…and hope. That's
the key or at least, I hope it is," she said. He smiled and kissed her hair.
"It is," he promised, as he joined Margaret again on the dance floor, while Ruby sided up to her.
"I thought I saw Killian…where did he go?" Emma asked.
"He left…he said to tell you that he was sorry, but I think it was too hard for him," Ruby confessed. Emma nodded.
"It's okay…I get it and I don't blame him," she replied.
"Just put it out of your mind…and be happy. You deserve it," Ruby said, as Emma smiled.
"Thank you," she replied, as Neal held his hand out and she joined him for a dance.
"You alright?" he asked.
"I'm better than alright. I'm with you. That's all that matters," she replied.
"So you're glad you said "I do"?" he asked. She smiled.
"Yeah. Of course," she answered.
"I know you've had reservations. Didn't know if you still had second thoughts," he mentioned.
"Our situation is anything but normal. But I love you. Don't ever doubt that," she said.
The crickets chirped, as TJ and Olive walked outside together to talk.
"Why don't you come with me? To Egypt. You're graduating in the spring. You can meet
up with me right after," he suggested.
"TJ, I'm…" Olive trailed off.
"Olive, I love you. And I want to be with you," he added.
"I wish I could. But I...I-I want my baby sister to know me. And I want to be able to spend as much time as I can with my mom and my dad and Cal before…" she said,
trailing off again.
"You're my best friend," she added.
"And us...breaking up, it…" she said, but he cut her off.
"I'm not breaking up with you. I'm going on this trip so that I can try to solve the Death Date so that we can have a future together. Just don't give up on me," he pleaded.
She smiled.
"Never," she promised.
Emma sighed, as she had a glass of champagne and talked to Regina.
"Congratulations," Regina said. Emma smiled.
"Thanks," she replied.
"You okay?" Emma asked. Regina sighed.
"I just feel like I failed Neal…and you," she said. Emma shook her head.
"No…you did everything you could. Neal has all but given up, but I haven't. David insists that the Callings will still come through and I'm trying to have that same hope that he
and MM do," she replied.
"Hope has never been easy for me either…but in this instance, I hope they are right. I quite like having a brother," Regina said. Emma smiled, as Regina's cell phone chimed
and she saw that it was unknown.
"Call me if you need anything…I need to take this," she said, as she went outside to answer it.
The reception was winding down at that point and Neal was hugging his father.
"Papa…I know that tomorrow might, well…you know. And if it is…just know that I love you and I've forgiven you, ten fold," Neal promised. Gold had tears in his eyes, as he
hugged him again. Henry hugged him next and he ruffled the boy's hair.
"I don't know how I can ever thank you, Henry. You saved my life, in more ways than one. You introduced me to your Aunt Emma, you know?" he said. Henry sniffed.
"You gave me the best bachelor party I've ever been to," Neal added, as he sniffed.
"You be good, little man and keep working on those chess skills. This guy here is the best there is at it. Maybe you two can play," Neal said, as he motioned to his father.
"I would love that, my boy," Gold said. Henry smiled.
"Me too," he agreed, as Emma was saying her goodbyes to her father and then finally David and MM.
"I promise you that I'm not going to give up. I'll follow the Callings to the end of the Earth if it means saving Neal," Emma said, as David and Margaret hugged her between
them.
"We know…and we'll be there to do whatever you need," he promised, as they saw the couple off to their car so their honeymoon could begin. They got in the car and drove
off.
Regina waited at the meeting point that had been texted her and looked around nervously. There was a tap on her shoulder and she turned around. When she saw no one,
she turned back the other way, only to practically jump out of her skin when seeing Vance now standing there, like he had come out of nowhere.
"Geez…don't do that!" she hissed.
"David sent the SOS so here I am. It better be good…because this is risky," Vance said.
"What's this about?" he asked.
"The Major…she had me fired and locked out of my lab. She had my license revoked and all my research has been taken," Regina replied. He looked intrigued by that.
"What? What do you know?" she asked.
"A couple days ago, the switchboard at the DOD lit up like a Christmas tree. The Major found a breakthrough with your research. She needs to make sure what she discovered
stays in her hands and her hands only," he revealed. Regina looked stunned.
"She must have cracked it. Gotten rid of the DNA anomaly permanently," she realized.
"I think it's time for me to make you disappear," Vance suggested. Regina looked shocked at that.
"Run away?" she questioned.
"It's for your own safety," Vance answered.
"No, I don't think you understand. I am not hiding from her. I am coming after her," Regina insisted, giving Vance a moment of pause at her determination.
"All cleaned up. Our house is officially a pumpkin again. Dishwasher's loaded. We're off the clock. You want to watch a movie?" Olive asked her little brother.
"You pick. I'm gonna go fire these babies up," Henry said, referring to the sparklers that he'd been given. She rolled her eyes and went to pick one out, while Henry went
outside in the front yard to light up the sparklers.
The baby cooed, as Margaret sang softly to her in their bedroom. David smiled and then was suddenly seized by a Calling. This one was intense and he saw the plane
exploding in mid air.
"Honey?" Margaret asked, as he breathed heavily.
"Another Calling?" she asked. He nodded.
"But different…I saw the plane exploding in mid air," he said, in confusion.
"But that didn't happen," Margaret replied.
"I know…maybe it's metaphorical for something else. Like something's about to happen," David said. Margaret squeezed his hand. A Calling like that couldn't mean anything
good.
Henry stood in the front yard and twirled his sparkler, moving it around to use the smoke as air writing. Three shadows approached him in the yard. The sparkler went out, as
the shadows loomed and he turned around, looking up into darkness…
Neal smiled at her, as she drove them toward their destination when the phone rang.
"Who's calling us on our honeymoon?" she wondered, as she pressed the button on her steering wheel to answer her phone, which was bluetoothed into the car.
"Hopefully someone with good news," Neal replied.
"Hello?" Emma answered.
"Aunt Emma…help!" Henry cried, sending their hearts into their throats.
"Henry…" she uttered.
"Shut that kid up!" a man's voice growled and a cold chill slithered down Emma's spine. It was Jace…she was sure of it.
"Listen, you sick…" Emma hissed.
"No, you listen, bitch!" Jace hissed back.
"You have two choices...you get us back or stash or you bury your nephew!" he warned.
"Don't you dare touch him!" Emma warned.
"Don't tempt me. I warned you. Now you're gonna pay," he said, as the line went dead.
"HENRY!" she cried and the realization came crashing down on her. She was responsible for this. She ignored a Calling and the trio of drug dealers didn't die as they
were supposed to. And now they had Henry. The brakes screeched, as she did a u-turn to head back to her brother's house.
