Season 2 Rewatch Drabbles

by jdmusiclover

A series of 100-500 word drabbles to accompany my rewatch of season 2 of Once Upon a Time as an attempt to finally jump start the muse again. There will be a drabble-either a deleted scene, a "fix it" fic or a character musing for each episode of the season. Focus will be on Emma, Henry, the Charmings and Killian-with an emphasis on the very beginnings of Captain Swan.

2. 2x2 We Are Both

Note: Today's selection is another character musing-this time about David, as he tries to navigate life as both Prince David of Misthaven and David Nolan
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Prince David of Mistahven had always been a decisive man. When he knew what he wanted, he went after it with everything within him, and so it was only natural that when Snow and Emma got pulled through a portal to—he didn't even know where—his top priority was to get them back.

He went about it with his normal single-minded devotion.

He had one lead, only a single one—Jefferson, who's hat it was that took his family from him—and when that lead ran from him, threatening his only hope, he jumped up from his table outside Granny's and tore after him.

Only to be stopped by Ruby.

"David, Stop!" she said, eyes wide and panicked. "Regina has Henry!"

He tried to break free. "Get out of my way! He has the way!"

She wouldn't be deterred, grabbing his shirt, holding tighter, getting in his face. "She has Henry! She's threatening everyone!"

"She has Henry?" he asked, the threat to his grandson finally breaking his concentration for a moment.

"She showed up at your meeting, the one you missed," Ruby continued. "Her magic's back; everyone's panicking. They want to leave town; they're going to lose Everything."

He waffled for another moment, his duty as prince warring with his heart, his duty as husband and father, his pain at losing his wife and daughter again after twenty-eight excruciating years apart.

"Okay, okay, but I have to go after him first; he's my only way to get Emma and Snow back."

David tried once more to break free, but Ruby was not to be deterred.

"Back to what? This town is about to come apart. You've gotta do something."

David closed his eyes, the guilt and agony close to breaking him. David Nolan threatened to take over. David Nolan, the weak, indecisive man who knew what he wanted, knew what he should do, but didn't have the strength to follow either his heart or his conscience.

David Nolan was a part of him, yes, but it wasn't the only part. He was also the prince, and as the prince, he knew what he had to do.

Ruby was right. He was the prince. For better or worse, he was their leader, and currently their only bolster against the Evil Queen.

He would get Emma and Snow back no matter what it took, but for now, his kingdom needed him.

"Okay," he finally conceded. "Let me go get Henry, and then I'll meet you at the town line. She may have cursed us, but I'll be damned before I let her destroy us all again."