Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Word Count: 1700
Rating: Mature (some violence)
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Author's Notes: Spoilers through episode 7. No beta reader has looked at this. Any mistakes are because I just never learn.
"I just love how all the Christmas lights make everything so festive. Don’t you? Everything seems so bright and sparkly; so pretty, like jewelry."
David Nolan walked down the street with his wife, letting her chatter wash over him and around him. He nodded in all the right places, and made agreeable, non-committal sounds at the back of his throat. But his mind was elsewhere.
He thought back over the two weeks since his memories had returned, since he had chosen to try to make their marriage work. And he had meant it. After spotting the old windmill in Mr. Gold’s antique store, he had remembered everything from before the accident put him in the coma.
Specifically, he had remembered sitting in the motel room that he’d been living in for a week, deciding that the time he and Kathryn had invested in their marriage was worth fighting for. He had remembered leaving the motel to walk back to their home to share his decision with her, and the sound of a car horn before immense pain wiped out all other thought. And even though it had felt like he and Mary Margaret had developed an almost magical connection in a very short time, he knew the honorable thing to do was to return to Kathryn and the life they had together.
As he crossed the intersection, he glanced down the cross street. Mary Margaret was standing on the sidewalk, a few doors down, looking into a shop window. David’s pulse raced. It was as though thinking about her had caused her to appear. He stopped in the middle of the road and stared. He was only mildly aware that Kathryn was still walking and talking.
"I was thinking we could have a big party this year, to let everyone know that we’re back together. I’d have to get it catered, of course. I couldn’t possibly handle all the decorating and cooking. I know, I know ... it’s a big expense, but I think it’s important to let all our friends see how much happier I - I mean, we are."
David admired the way the light from the street lamps shone down on Mary Margaret’s cap of dark hair. He suddenly remembered how - the one time he’d managed to get close enough - he’d caught a whiff of fragrance from that raven hair. She had smelled like newly fallen snow, and he had wanted to kiss her ruby red lips. A movement at her side pulled his gaze to a new figure; Dr. Whale had joined Mary Margaret and she turned to speak with him.
"David? David are you even listening?"
Kathryn had obviously noticed that he wasn’t paying attention, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the pair down the street. When he felt a weight on his arm, he knew Kathryn had returned to his side and placed a hand on his arm, but he really didn’t care. He strained to hear what was being said by Mary Margaret and the doctor even though he was much too far away. As the other man pulled her into an embrace, David moved towards them.
"David? What are you doing? Where are you going? David? David!"
Putting some distance between himself and Kathryn cut down on the shrillness in her voice. He spared a small moment to be grateful. He walked faster, wanting to - no, needing to - rescue Mary Margaret from the unwanted advances of the other man. Without missing a beat, David reached out, pulled the doctor away from Mary Margaret, and punched him in the nose. He was mildly satisfied when his former physician dropped like a stone.
"David!" Mary Margaret crouched beside the doctor. "What’s gotten into you?"
"I was … I thought he was attacking you." Even to his own ears the excuse sounded rather lame. "Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?"
"I’m fine, no he didn’t, and he wasn’t." Mary Margaret looked up at him as she helped Whale to his feet. "Honestly, we were just saying goodbye."
"Why?"
"Because that’s what you do when you’re ending a date." Whale spoke from behind his hand, which was holding his nostrils pinched closed.
"It wasn’t a date," Mary Margaret said.
"You’re dating him now?" David asked.
"It wasn’t a date -" Mary Margaret repeated at the same time Whale said, "Yes."
"How long has this been going on?"
"Not that it’s any of your business," she glared at him. When the doctor added, "Two weeks." David was pleased to note she glared at him, too.
"What is this?" Kathryn had finally joined them.
"You can’t date him," said David.
"I’ll date whomever I want," Mary Margaret responded.
"It’s not right."
"Says who?"
"Says me!"
"And that means something, why?" The pain in her voice cut right through him.
David opened his mouth to answer but nothing came out. She was right; he’d made his choice. But looking at Mary Margaret, the flush of righteous indignation staining her snow white cheeks, lamplight glinting off her ebony hair, and her blood red lips pulled down in a frown … he knew he’d made the wrong choice. He wasn’t going to let her go a second time. He reached out and grabbed her hand just as Kathryn grabbed his other arm and began pulling him away.
"David, you’re embarrassing me!" Kathryn’s voice had gone shrill again.
"Get your hands off her, you brute!" Doctor Whale grabbed ahold of Mary Margaret at the same time.
David looked in Mary Margaret’s eyes, worried that she would pull away. Instead, she gripped his hand tightly, which gave him the strength to pull them together. Ignoring Kathryn’s protests and Whale’s threats to call the sheriff’s office, David wrapped his arms around Mary Margaret.
"I’ve been an idiot."
"Yes."
"I should have picked you."
"Yes."
"Can I kiss you now?"
"Oh, yes."
When their lips met an electrical current shot through him. He revelled in the feel of her body against his and how right it felt to finally be kissing her after so many aborted attempts. And then more memories cascaded down on him, flashing almost faster than he could comprehend.
A flash of him and Mary Margaret, dressed oddly, walking through a forest. A flash of him leaning over a glass coffin, kissing Mary Margaret and waking her from a deep sleep. A flash of an elaborate wedding, Mary Margaret wearing a beautiful white gown, her long jet black hair styled intricately and framing her face as they pledged their love. A flash of Mary Margaret, heavy with child, sitting by a roaring fire as he spoke to her belly; her hand running through his hair as she laughed. A flash of running from her side, a newborn cradled in his arms, to a wooden armoire. A flash of lying, fatally wounded, in Mary Margaret’s arms.
Startled, he pulled back from the kiss, gasping for air. He looked into Mary Margaret’s eyes and saw that she was struggling as well.
"Did you see …" he asked.
"Yes," she laughed.
"David, what is going on?" Kathryn’s voice had turned into a whine. She pulled at him again, but he couldn’t take his eyes of Mary Margaret.
"I remember," he said.
"Yes, you remembered that we’re married."
"No, I remembered."
"I’m going to call the Sheriff," Doctor Whale piped in, "Not only have you assaulted me, but also my date!"
"It wasn’t a date," Mary Margaret sighed. She looked up at him with a big smile. "You came back for me."
"I did promise," David returned her smile.
"David, I insist we go home now. I’m not feeling well," Kathryn wheedled.
"No."
"No?"
"No." He finally turned to face his wife. But his hand maintained a firm grip on Mary Margaret’s hand. He’d been separated from her once; never again.
"Kathryn, I don’t love you. I’m not supposed to be with you. I was never supposed to be with you."
"What are you saying?" He watched as tears welled up in her ice blue eyes, but he didn’t feel any sympathy. He knew it was just a ploy to make him do what she wanted. She’d been using that trick their entire sham of a marriage.
"I remember Mary Margaret. I remember loving her. I still love her."
"You do?" Mary Margaret said, pulling his attention back to her.
He pulled her closer, tucking her hand under his arm. "I do."
"But what about our date?" Whale interjected.
As one, David and Mary Margaret responded. "It wasn’t a date."
"You’ll hear from my lawyer," Kathryn said before storming off.
"And mine," Whale hurried off in the opposite direction.
As soon as both parties were gone, they dropped from David’s thoughts.
"I’m so very sorry," he said.
"You’re forgiven," Mary Margaret’s smile warmed him.
"But I forgot everything. I forgot you." Although it pained him to admit it, he had to be completely honest. She had always deserved his total honesty.
"Are you saying I was forgettable?" The humour in her eyes let him know she was only teasing. "Charming."
"My name isn’t Charming," he leaned his forehead to rest against hers.
"No, James, it isn’t." Mary Margaret - no, Snow - rose on tip toes to kiss him quickly. "So, what do we do now?"
"I don’t even know where to begin … what happened?"
"The curse must have been broken when we kissed."
"Like this?" he gave her a thorough example.
"Mmhmm. Just like that," she smiled again.
"But Kathryn and Whale don’t seem any different." David - now James - said.
"Well, I’m not kissing either of them," Snow declared, a flicker of revulsion flitting over her face at the thought.
He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. "I don’t blame you. So, who can we ask for help?"
After pausing to consider the matter, Snow’s face lit with an idea. "Henry! Henry knows about the curse. Maybe we can find something in his book."
"Then let’s go find Henry," David/James said. And arm and arm, Snow White and Prince Charming headed off into the night.
Rating: Mature (some violence)
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Author's Notes: Spoilers through episode 7. No beta reader has looked at this. Any mistakes are because I just never learn.
"I just love how all the Christmas lights make everything so festive. Don’t you? Everything seems so bright and sparkly; so pretty, like jewelry."
David Nolan walked down the street with his wife, letting her chatter wash over him and around him. He nodded in all the right places, and made agreeable, non-committal sounds at the back of his throat. But his mind was elsewhere.
He thought back over the two weeks since his memories had returned, since he had chosen to try to make their marriage work. And he had meant it. After spotting the old windmill in Mr. Gold’s antique store, he had remembered everything from before the accident put him in the coma.
Specifically, he had remembered sitting in the motel room that he’d been living in for a week, deciding that the time he and Kathryn had invested in their marriage was worth fighting for. He had remembered leaving the motel to walk back to their home to share his decision with her, and the sound of a car horn before immense pain wiped out all other thought. And even though it had felt like he and Mary Margaret had developed an almost magical connection in a very short time, he knew the honorable thing to do was to return to Kathryn and the life they had together.
As he crossed the intersection, he glanced down the cross street. Mary Margaret was standing on the sidewalk, a few doors down, looking into a shop window. David’s pulse raced. It was as though thinking about her had caused her to appear. He stopped in the middle of the road and stared. He was only mildly aware that Kathryn was still walking and talking.
"I was thinking we could have a big party this year, to let everyone know that we’re back together. I’d have to get it catered, of course. I couldn’t possibly handle all the decorating and cooking. I know, I know ... it’s a big expense, but I think it’s important to let all our friends see how much happier I - I mean, we are."
David admired the way the light from the street lamps shone down on Mary Margaret’s cap of dark hair. He suddenly remembered how - the one time he’d managed to get close enough - he’d caught a whiff of fragrance from that raven hair. She had smelled like newly fallen snow, and he had wanted to kiss her ruby red lips. A movement at her side pulled his gaze to a new figure; Dr. Whale had joined Mary Margaret and she turned to speak with him.
"David? David are you even listening?"
Kathryn had obviously noticed that he wasn’t paying attention, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the pair down the street. When he felt a weight on his arm, he knew Kathryn had returned to his side and placed a hand on his arm, but he really didn’t care. He strained to hear what was being said by Mary Margaret and the doctor even though he was much too far away. As the other man pulled her into an embrace, David moved towards them.
"David? What are you doing? Where are you going? David? David!"
Putting some distance between himself and Kathryn cut down on the shrillness in her voice. He spared a small moment to be grateful. He walked faster, wanting to - no, needing to - rescue Mary Margaret from the unwanted advances of the other man. Without missing a beat, David reached out, pulled the doctor away from Mary Margaret, and punched him in the nose. He was mildly satisfied when his former physician dropped like a stone.
"David!" Mary Margaret crouched beside the doctor. "What’s gotten into you?"
"I was … I thought he was attacking you." Even to his own ears the excuse sounded rather lame. "Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?"
"I’m fine, no he didn’t, and he wasn’t." Mary Margaret looked up at him as she helped Whale to his feet. "Honestly, we were just saying goodbye."
"Why?"
"Because that’s what you do when you’re ending a date." Whale spoke from behind his hand, which was holding his nostrils pinched closed.
"It wasn’t a date," Mary Margaret said.
"You’re dating him now?" David asked.
"It wasn’t a date -" Mary Margaret repeated at the same time Whale said, "Yes."
"How long has this been going on?"
"Not that it’s any of your business," she glared at him. When the doctor added, "Two weeks." David was pleased to note she glared at him, too.
"What is this?" Kathryn had finally joined them.
"You can’t date him," said David.
"I’ll date whomever I want," Mary Margaret responded.
"It’s not right."
"Says who?"
"Says me!"
"And that means something, why?" The pain in her voice cut right through him.
David opened his mouth to answer but nothing came out. She was right; he’d made his choice. But looking at Mary Margaret, the flush of righteous indignation staining her snow white cheeks, lamplight glinting off her ebony hair, and her blood red lips pulled down in a frown … he knew he’d made the wrong choice. He wasn’t going to let her go a second time. He reached out and grabbed her hand just as Kathryn grabbed his other arm and began pulling him away.
"David, you’re embarrassing me!" Kathryn’s voice had gone shrill again.
"Get your hands off her, you brute!" Doctor Whale grabbed ahold of Mary Margaret at the same time.
David looked in Mary Margaret’s eyes, worried that she would pull away. Instead, she gripped his hand tightly, which gave him the strength to pull them together. Ignoring Kathryn’s protests and Whale’s threats to call the sheriff’s office, David wrapped his arms around Mary Margaret.
"I’ve been an idiot."
"Yes."
"I should have picked you."
"Yes."
"Can I kiss you now?"
"Oh, yes."
When their lips met an electrical current shot through him. He revelled in the feel of her body against his and how right it felt to finally be kissing her after so many aborted attempts. And then more memories cascaded down on him, flashing almost faster than he could comprehend.
A flash of him and Mary Margaret, dressed oddly, walking through a forest. A flash of him leaning over a glass coffin, kissing Mary Margaret and waking her from a deep sleep. A flash of an elaborate wedding, Mary Margaret wearing a beautiful white gown, her long jet black hair styled intricately and framing her face as they pledged their love. A flash of Mary Margaret, heavy with child, sitting by a roaring fire as he spoke to her belly; her hand running through his hair as she laughed. A flash of running from her side, a newborn cradled in his arms, to a wooden armoire. A flash of lying, fatally wounded, in Mary Margaret’s arms.
Startled, he pulled back from the kiss, gasping for air. He looked into Mary Margaret’s eyes and saw that she was struggling as well.
"Did you see …" he asked.
"Yes," she laughed.
"David, what is going on?" Kathryn’s voice had turned into a whine. She pulled at him again, but he couldn’t take his eyes of Mary Margaret.
"I remember," he said.
"Yes, you remembered that we’re married."
"No, I remembered."
"I’m going to call the Sheriff," Doctor Whale piped in, "Not only have you assaulted me, but also my date!"
"It wasn’t a date," Mary Margaret sighed. She looked up at him with a big smile. "You came back for me."
"I did promise," David returned her smile.
"David, I insist we go home now. I’m not feeling well," Kathryn wheedled.
"No."
"No?"
"No." He finally turned to face his wife. But his hand maintained a firm grip on Mary Margaret’s hand. He’d been separated from her once; never again.
"Kathryn, I don’t love you. I’m not supposed to be with you. I was never supposed to be with you."
"What are you saying?" He watched as tears welled up in her ice blue eyes, but he didn’t feel any sympathy. He knew it was just a ploy to make him do what she wanted. She’d been using that trick their entire sham of a marriage.
"I remember Mary Margaret. I remember loving her. I still love her."
"You do?" Mary Margaret said, pulling his attention back to her.
He pulled her closer, tucking her hand under his arm. "I do."
"But what about our date?" Whale interjected.
As one, David and Mary Margaret responded. "It wasn’t a date."
"You’ll hear from my lawyer," Kathryn said before storming off.
"And mine," Whale hurried off in the opposite direction.
As soon as both parties were gone, they dropped from David’s thoughts.
"I’m so very sorry," he said.
"You’re forgiven," Mary Margaret’s smile warmed him.
"But I forgot everything. I forgot you." Although it pained him to admit it, he had to be completely honest. She had always deserved his total honesty.
"Are you saying I was forgettable?" The humour in her eyes let him know she was only teasing. "Charming."
"My name isn’t Charming," he leaned his forehead to rest against hers.
"No, James, it isn’t." Mary Margaret - no, Snow - rose on tip toes to kiss him quickly. "So, what do we do now?"
"I don’t even know where to begin … what happened?"
"The curse must have been broken when we kissed."
"Like this?" he gave her a thorough example.
"Mmhmm. Just like that," she smiled again.
"But Kathryn and Whale don’t seem any different." David - now James - said.
"Well, I’m not kissing either of them," Snow declared, a flicker of revulsion flitting over her face at the thought.
He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. "I don’t blame you. So, who can we ask for help?"
After pausing to consider the matter, Snow’s face lit with an idea. "Henry! Henry knows about the curse. Maybe we can find something in his book."
"Then let’s go find Henry," David/James said. And arm and arm, Snow White and Prince Charming headed off into the night.