David went around town looking for Emma so that he could explain. He needed her to know that him signing those papers was a mistake. He never wanted to give her up. He just thought he was doing what was best for her. There was one place he was sure she would go if she was mad at him. He walked up to the door knocked and waited for an answer. When the person on the other side of the door answered he smiled at her. "Hey. Sorry to bother you this late but is Emma here" David asked his wife. "No" she said shaking her head. David was surprised. He thought for certain Emma would come to her mother. He gave Mary a sad smile. "Thanks anyway" he said going to leave. "You look like you need to talk" Marty said smiling at him and stepping out of the way so he could enter. David stopped and looked at his wife for a second. Talking to her was definitely what he needed even though she didn't remember him. Just talking to her about Emma it felt right. He smiled and walked in. "Thanks" he said.
David sat at the kitchen table while Mary made him a cup of cocoa. She placed it in front of him. "Thanks" he said smiling at her and took a sip of it. "Cinnamon" he said. "Oh, I'm sorry, I should've asked. It's a little quirk of mine. Do you mind" Mary asked. David laughed a little and shook his head. "Not at all. Thanks. It's a little quirk of mine and Emma's too" David said. Mary made a gesture to offer him some food. He shook his head. "No thanks" he said. David looked down at his cup of cocoa. "Emma hates me. I screwed up" David said not looking at Mary as he was ashamed of himself. "I'm sure that's not true. I mean whatever you did couldn't have been that bad" Mary said. "I almost gave Emma up" David said. Mary looked at him shock. "It was when she was a baby. I was alone scared and I didn't know if I could raise her by myself. I thought maybe if she got put in a good home she'd have a good life. I should have never signed those stupid papers" David said looking back down at his cup.
"Why didn't you give her up" Mary asked. David looked up at her confused. "What" he asked. "I don't mean to pry but you didn't give her up in the end so obviously something stopped you. What was it" she asked. "That night after I signed the papers she wouldn't stop crying. Nothing I did worked. I convinced myself that meant I made the right decision. We were staying in an apartment a couple of people I met put us up in. While I was trying to get her to stop crying I sat down in a rocking chair to try to rock her to sleep and did the last thing I could think of. I told her the story of how me and her mother met and then she stopped crying. She just laid there in my arms and listened like she understood what I was saying. She fell asleep shortly after that but it was in that moment that I knew that I made a mistake. I couldn't give her up no matter what. That was my first full night of sleep since she was born" David said looking at Mary who was just staring at him listening.
"You must think I'm a horrible person. Being willing to give up my daughter like that" David said. Mary shook her head. "Not at all. I think you're a father who was just trying to give his daughter her best chance" Mary said. David looked at Mary shocked. She looked at back at David nervously. "I'm sorry did I say something wrong" Mary asked. David shook his head. "No it's just that that's the last thing I promised my wife. To give Emma her best chance" David said staring at Mary. Snow was still in there somewhere deep down inside. They stared at each other for a few moments. "You know it's strange. Ever since you and Emma arrived here, I've had the oddest feeling like we've all met before and I know it's crazy" Mary said taking a sip of her cocoa. David shook his head. "I don't think it's crazy at all" he said. David smiled at her. "Thank you for everything but I think I should go find Emma" David said standing up. "Tell her what you told me. She'll understand" Mary said. David nodded and left.
David drove around town trying to find Emma. She had to be somewhere in this town. She wouldn't just leave. He kept calling her but she sent it straight to voicemail. After about a half hour search David finally found Emma's car. It was parked outside Archie's office. David couldn't believe it. She was talking to Archie about everything that happened. David parked his truck got out and ran into Archie's office. Hopefully Emma would listen to what he had to say. Inside Archie's office Emma was just sitting on his couch quiet. Archie watched as Emma just sat there. "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it" Archie asked. Emma looked over at him and shook her head. "No I just need a place to hide from my Dad. He would never think to look for me here" she said. Just then David walked into the office. "Emma there you are. I've been looking all over for you" David said relieved to have finally found his daughter. Archie stood up and walked over to David.
"Mr. Nolan, I can explain. Your brother forced me" Archie started but David interrupted him. "I know. Don't worry about it. I get it" David said walking over to Emma. "Emma, I'm so sorry" David said. "I don't want to talk to you" Emma said. "Mr. Nolan, if he knew you were here" Archie started to say but once again David interrupted him. "He can go to hell" David said sitting down in Archie's chair. "Emma, there is one reason I signed those papers. You. Your special and I didn't know if I was going to be enough to raise you by myself. I didn't know if I was what was best for you. I was stupid because raising you for 18 years and knowing the young woman you have become I can't imagine my life any other way" David said. "You didn't want me" Emma said. "No, I always wanted you. I was crazy for signing those papers" David said sighing. "I did consider giving you up and that is my biggest regret in life. I was alone and being a single father is a lot to ask of someone" David said.
"The truth is for the last 18 years you helped me get through this world. You are always what would get me through the day. I would sometimes think to myself what do I know about being a father? Mine was horrible to me James and my mother and I promised myself I would never treat you the way he treated us. We always just had each other" David said. "I've always wanted Mom" Emma said. David nodded his head. "I know and I also know that you need to hear the truth from me. The one thing I do know is that you are the best thing that ever happened to me and this is where we belong. This is our home and I'm not going to let James and Regina scare us into leaving or let them come between us. They think their plan worked but hopefully it didn't because I will never ever give up on us. The last thing I promised your mother was that I would give you your best chance. I don't know if I did or not but I hope I did. I love you so much Emma and I'm sorry" David said. Emma hugged him.
"You kept your promise. You were my best chance. No one could have raised me better. I love you Dad" Emma said. David held onto Emma tight. To think there was a time he considered giving her up. That was the biggest mistake of his life. Being Emma's father was the greatest adventure he had ever had. They were going to figure out how to break this curse no matter what James and Regina tried to do to them. He would never let them hurt Emma. Emma pulled back from the hug and David smiled at her. He pulled the adoption papers out of his back pocket. "Now what do you say we get rid of these papers so they never come between us again" David said and walked over to the fireplace. He threw them into the fire and watched his biggest mistake go up in flames. "Now they can never come back to hurt us again" David said. Emma walked up to her father and hugged him again. David sighed. "We're going to save everyone in this town" Emma whispered into David's ear. "Yea we are" David agreed.
In the enchanted forest James and Regina stood in the clearing where they first tried to cast the curse both holding boxes. Regina turned to James. "Are you ready for our new life my love" she asked. James looked at Regina and put on a fake smile. "Of course my love" he said kissing her hand. Regina opened her box and James followed suit. He hoped this worked. Regina threw her father's heart into the fire. James hesitated a little bit but then threw the unicorn's heart that he was pretending was his mother's into the fire. At first nothing happened. Crap James thought. He didn't know what he was going to do. Then all of a sudden thunder started crashing in the sky and the fire got higher and then a cloud formed around the fire. James smiled. It had worked. They had cast the curse and he didn't have to kill his mother. "It worked" James said out loud. Regina smiled at him. "Of course it did. Soon our new life will begin" she said.
James walked into the basement of his mother's castle where his mother's sleeping body was. He took her hand. "When you wake up we will be in the new land where me and Regina will finally get our happy ending. Thank you. I'll never forget this. I love you" James said kissing her forehead. He walked out behind his mother's castle where he put a tombstone with her name on it. He had to make it look believable. He had buried her unicorn there. He was standing there thinking about what he had done when Regina walked up to him. She took his hand. "I'm sorry you had to kill your mother. I know how much you loved her" she said. James nodded. "I'm sorry you had to kill your father" he said. "I know but at least we have each other and Snow White and your brother won't win. We're finally going to get our happy ending James" Regina said hugging him. James hugged her back and felt bad. He hated lying to Regina but she could never know that he didn't kill his mother. He couldn't lose her.
Back in Storybrooke James walked through the mines with a backpack on his shoulder and holding a flashlight. He made it to a certain part of the mines where Snow White's coffin was. It was broken but he smiled remembering the memory of when she was cursed with the sleeping curse until his brother woke her up with true love's kiss. James rolled his eyes at the thought. "James what are you doing here again" James smiled and turned around and saw his mother standing behind him. "You already visited me today" Maleficent said. James took the backpack off his shoulder and took out a plastic container with food in it. "Regina made her famous lasagna tonight and I know how much you love it" James said handing her the container. Maleficent took it and smiled. "I do love the lasagna but not as much as I love visits from my son. I was thinking do you think I could see Henry again? It's been a while since I last saw him" Maleficent said as she took a bite of the lasagna.
"Yea sorry about that. It's just hard because when he see's you I can't let him see Regina until he goes to sleep and then I have to take his memory away" James said. Maleficent smiled sadly. "I understand. I was just hoping I would be able to see my grandson again soon" she said. James saw how sad his mother was about not seeing Henry and it broke his heart. "You know what screw it. When I visit you tomorrow I'll bring him" James said. Maleficent put a big smile on her face. "Really" she said. "Yea" James said smiling at his mother. "So are you going to tell me why you came back down here to visit me again today? Not that I'm complaining but you normally only visit me once a day" Maleficent said. "We're celebrating" James said. "Celebrating what" Maleficent asked. "Your son and his daughter leaving town" James said. Maleficent stopped just as she was about to take another bite of the lasagna. "David's here" Maleficent asked looking at James. James nodded his head. "His daughter also" he said.
"Why didn't you tell me" Maleficent asked. "It wasn't important" James said. "Wasn't important? My other son came into town with my granddaughter who I never met. How is that not important" Maleficent asked. "I've told you this before mom. I'm the only son you need. You don't need David" James said. Maleficent walked over to James. "James I haven't seen David in 18 years. I just want to see that he's OK" she said. "He's fine. I didn't hurt him. He's leaving town" James said. "What? No he can't I never got the chance to see him or meet my granddaughter" Maleficent said. James got mad at this. "WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT HIM? YOU HAVE ME. THAT'S ALL YOU NEED" James yelled at his mother. Maleficent glared at him. "James you will watch your tone with me young man" she scolded. James looked away ashamed. "Sorry mom. It's just frustrating. Why do you want to see him" he asked. "He's my son just like you are" Maleficent said.
"Well it's too late. He's probably already gone" James said. Maleficent shook her head. "David would never leave on his own. Not while Snow is here. What did you do" she asked. "Oh nothing. Me and Regina just made sure he paid for a mistake he made. He learned his lesson. He will never step foot in this town again because if him or his daughter do there will be consequences for them" James said. Maleficent was so mad. She slapped James across the face hard. "You will not hurt David or your niece. Do you understand me" Maleficent asked. James rubbed his cheek and glared at his mother. "So your taking his side. After what he did to me and Regina" James said. Maleficent shook her head. "I'm not taking anybody's side. You are both being immature. You just need to forgive each other" she said. James shook his head. "Not after what he did" James said. Maleficent sighed. "It was a mistake James" she said. "So I've heard" James said.
"I want to see David" Maleficent said. James shook his head. "That's not going to happen" he said as he walked over to where Maleficent had put the container and put back in the backpack. "James please" Maleficent said. "No mom. David's leaving town" James said as he started to walk away. "What if he doesn't" Maleficent asked. James stopped and turned around. "If he doesn't then I will just have to take care of him and his daughter violently" he said. "No" Maleficent said horrified. "I asked nicely. If David and Emma stay in town I will have no choice but to kill them" he said. Maleficent shook her head. "I won't let you hurt them" she said. James laughed. "What can you do mom? Your trapped down here" he said. Maleficent ran towards James but was stopped by an invisible force field. James laughed again. "I'll see you tomorrow mom and I'll bring Henry" James said walking away from his mother. "James don't hurt David or his daughter" Maleficent screamed. James continued walking smiling evilly.
James arrived home and started walking up to the front door. He stopped when he saw Regina in the garden. "Regina honey" he called. Regina turned and smiled seeing her husband standing in front of her. She walked over and kissed him. "How was your meeting" Regina asked. "Pretty eventful. I think they understand who's in charge now" James lied. Whenever he told Regina that he had a meeting or he had to work late he was off seeing his mother. His mother being alive was a secret he was going to take to his grave. Regina smiled at him. "That's good the dwarfs need to know who's in charge in this town" she said. James smiled at her. "What are you doing" he asked. "Just trying to clean up the mess your brother made" she said. She smiled at James. "We did it. We got him to leave town. We won again" she said. James smiled evilly. "I told you we would. I would do anything for us to keep our happy ending. Anything" James said. "I know you would. I love you" she said kissing him passionately.
They stopped kissing and Regina walked back to the tree. James walked over with her and examined the tree while she started cleaning off where David had taken the chainsaw to it. Neither one of them saw Mr. Gold walking up to them. "What a mess" he said. "Not for long" James said. "What can we do for you, Mr. Gold" Regina asked. "I was just in the neighborhood, thought I'd pop by. Lovely to see you two in such high spirts" Mr. Gold said. James laughed. "It's been a good day" James said. "We just rid the town of two unwanted nuisances" Regina said. "David and Emma Nolan? Really" Mr. Gold asked. "Yes. We imagine their halfway to Boston by now" James said. Mr. Gold took an apple off one of the trees in their garden and laughed. "I wouldn't bet on that" Mr. Gold said. They glared at him. "I just saw them eating dinner in Granny's together. Thick as thieves they looked" Mr. Gold said. "What" Regina asked. "Perhaps you two should've come to me" Mr. Gold said.
"If Mr. Nolan is a problem you can't fix, I'm only too happy to help. For a price, of course" Mr. Gold said. James chuckled. "We're not in the business of making deals with you anymore" James said as he took Regina's hand and they walked over to their tree. "To which deal are you referring" Mr. Gold asked looking at the apple in his hand. James and Regina turned around to look at him. "You know what deal" James said. "Oh, right, yeah. I helped you guys have Henry. Without me you wouldn't have your son now would you guys? Speaking of Henry where is he" Mr. Gold asked. "Asleep" Regina said. "Henry. Did I ever tell you guys what a lovely name that was? However did you two pick it" Mr. Gold asked. James and Regina just looked at each other. Regina turned around. "Did you want them to come to town" Regina asked. Mr. Gold just looked at her staying silent. Now James turned around. "You wanted all this to happen, didn't you? Why did you help us have Henry? What's in it for you" he asked.
"Whatever do you mean" Mr. Gold asked. "This is all part of your plan. Us having Henry. David and Emma coming to town isn't it" James asked. Mr. Gold just smiled at him. "Do you know something" Regina asked. "I have no idea what your implying" Mr. Gold said. "I think you know exactly what she's implying" James said. Once again Mr. Gold smiled at him. "Now, I really must be going" Mr. Gold said turning around to leave. James stepped in front of Mr. Gold. "Tell us what you want. Why did you want David and Emma to come to Storybrooke" James asked. "I'm not going to answer you, dearie. So I suggest you excuse me" Mr. Gold said. James just glared at him. There was no way he was moving until he got some answers. "Please" Mr. Gold said. James and Regina looked at each other shocked as Mr. Gold took a bite out of his apple. He walked around James who was still shocked. James turned around and watched Mr. Gold leave. Mr. Gold threw the apple behind him as he left the garden.
James and Regina just stared at each other until Regina walked up to him. "You don't think he knows do you" she asked James after Mr. Gold was out of earshot. James shook his head. "How could he? No one knows besides you and me" he said. "Your brother too" Regina said. James thought for a minute then an idea came to him. He hugged Regina. "Don't worry about David. Leave him to me. I know exactly how to deal with him" James said as him and Regina walked into their house. They were unaware that David had been listening to their whole conversation with the bug he had set up when he destroyed their tree. Him and Emma were going to stay in one of the town houses until he could find somewhere more permanent to stay. Emma was asleep but David had heard the whole conversation between James Regina and Mr. Gold. They had to be careful of all three of them. David didn't know what James was planning for him but he was definitely going to be on his toes around his brother. He smiled. He was now two steps ahead of them. David got undressed and got into bed happy for the small victory he just had. He knew he couldn't trust any of the three villains and him and Emma were going to bring them all down.