Chapter Ten: 7:15 A.M.

Thundering was rumbling over Storybrooke, the stranger was in front of the Mayor's house, he was fixing his bike when Henry came outside and walked up to the stranger. "What are you doing here?" Henry asked him.

"Fixing my bike," said the stranger.

"No. I mean in Storybrooke," Henry said.

"Just visiting," he said.

"What's that?" Henry asked, looking over at the brown leather box on the back of his bike.

"A box," he said, trying to be vague.

"What's inside it?" Henry urged, trying to find what was in the box.

"Just something I need to do what I came here for," he answered, putting his helmet back on. Regina came walking out of the house and looked up, seeing her son talking to some stranger that she had never seen before.

"I thought you were just visiting," Henry said.

"Doesn't mean I don't have something to do," said the stranger, the engine revs.

"Henry?" Regina called out to him.

"You better get to school," said the stranger. Regina walked down the sidewalk toward Henry quickly. "Looks like a storm is coming." He drove off when Regina stood next to her son, watching the stranger leave.

"Henry. Who was that?" Regina asked, Henry just shrugged.

"Top of the morning. This is chief meteorologist Bill Goslyn with your up-to-the-minute Storybrooke weather," said Bill Goslyn on the TV of Emma and Mary Margaret's apartment. Emma was walking out of the kitchen while a bowl of cereal was in her hands. "Break out those galoshes, folks. It's gonna get soggy. We've got a major storm system moving up the coast, and the latest Doppler Radar shows the worst band of precipitation coming into Storybrooke right about the time you're putting the kids..."

Mary Margaret came rushing out of her room, her jacket wasn't fully on, and she went to grab her shoes that were near the closest door in the kitchen. Emma was watching her friend in amazement at the rushing and everything. She had her toothbrush in her mouth then pulled out the toothbrush and spit out the toothpaste in the kitchen sink. "I cannot believe I overslept," Mary Margaret said.

"It's only 7:10, you've got plenty of time to get to school," Emma said, trying to calm Mary Margaret down.

"No, I have to be there at 7:15," Mary Margaret said, running to the door to grab her hat. "Science fair. I'm helping the kids with their project before school," she explained, putting on her hat.

"I'm sure if you're five minutes late, they'll live," Emma said jokingly.

"We're making a volcano," Mary Margaret said, putting on her scarf as she looked at Emma seriously. She opened the door and walked out, closing the door behind her.

"Okay," Emma said to herself, continuing to eat her cereal.

Mary Margaret quickly walked down the sidewalk, clutching her purse to her side as she walked to Granny's Diner. When she reached the entrance of Granny's Diner, she practically ran to the door, opened it fast, and slowly walked in, sitting down at the table. She opened up her purse and took out her book, setting her purse next to her on the floor. She took off her hat and opened up the spoon, looking at herself and fixing her hair to make it look somewhat decent. She set the spoon down quickly as she waited for a certain someone to come walking in, she looked at the clock. It was 7:15 in the morning. She heard the doorbells jingling and she quickly picked up her book and started to read.

David Nolan walked in and noticed Mary Margaret sitting at the table reading a book, he closed the door behind him and walked past her, and Mary Margaret looked up and saw David.

"One cream and sugar. One black," Ruby said, handing him the two coffees with a smile on her face.

Mary Margaret kept staring at him with longing in her eyes. She still has deep and intense feelings for him but she knows that she can't act on them because he's married. To Kathryn Nolan.

"Thank you," David said, handing the cash to Ruby.

Mary Margaret looked away and kept reading while David looked over his shoulder to look at Mary Margaret. He picked up the coffee and walked over to her. "Good morning," he said to her.

She looked up at him with a surprised look on her face. "Morning," she said with a smile, setting the book down as they looked at each other for a long moment.

"I should go, I'm gonna be late for work," David said.

"The animal shelter, right? How's that going?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Well, the apes haven't taken over," David joked.

"Yet," Mary Margaret said with a big smile.

"Not on my watch," David said while laughing.

Mary Margaret laughed as well, they didn't say a single word for what seemed forever, the two just stared at each other with a smile on their faces. David nodded once and walked out of Granny's Diner. Her smile faded when he walked out. She couldn't stop thinking about him, she knew that it was wrong of her to think about a married man but she knew in her heart that he was the one for her. She fell deeply in love with him. She wondered if there was a way to get over him. She looked over her shoulder at the now-closed door, and she saw David handing Kathryn her coffee on the passenger side and he bent down to kiss her on the lips.

"This is 'making a volcano'?" Emma asked, walking toward her and sitting down across from her.

"I was...," Mary Margaret started.

"I get it," Emma said.

"He comes here every morning at 7:15 a.m. to get coffee," Mary Margaret explained.

"For him and his wife," Emma stated firmly.

"I know. I know. I know. I just like to come here to see him," Mary Margaret said, her eyes closed for a moment.

"So, you're a stalker," Emma said half-jokingly.

"No, not really," Mary Margaret said quickly. Emma raised an eyebrow at her. "Maybe a little bit. I mean, it's not like I'm following him. I just know that he spends his mornings with Kathryn. Gets coffee. Then drives to the animal shelter to start work at 7:30. And then he's home around 5:00."

"Oh? Is that all?" Emma asked.

"Thursdays they pick up Chinese for dinner," Mary Margaret said quickly. "I can't get him out of my head."

"I know. Maybe the first step is not showing up here tomorrow," Emma told her.

"Love is the worst. I wish there was a magic cure." Mary Margaret said sadly, and Emma nodded in agreement.

Snow White was in a small area, she had a spear in hand and she saw the turkey in an opening. All of a sudden the turkey got scared and fell off, Snow heard rustling to her right, and her head snapped toward the sound. She was about to throw the spear when she saw the red cloak and she took a deep breath. It was only Red Riding Hood. Or simply known as Red to her friends and family and almost everyone in her village.

"Hey! It's me," said Red.

"Red," Snow said, the spear still in the air.

"The spear, Snow?" Red said, pointing at it.

"Oh," Snow lowered the spear to her side. "Sorry." She walked toward Red, sighing. "I wasn't expecting you for a month."

"It's been a month," said Red.

"Has it?" Snow said, couldn't believe that it has been a month already.

"You're really taking well to the solitude, aren't you?" Red asked.

"It's fine. It's exactly what I wanted. To be out here. Away." Snow looked out into the distance then back at Red.

"And that you are. Here you go." Red stated, handing Snow a basket of fruits and loaves of bread.

"Thank you," Snow breathed out, taking the basket. "So, how are things back in the world?"

"Come on. Ask what you really want," Red teased with a smile.

"I don't know what you mean," Snow said, Red gave her a knowing look. She closed her eyes for a second then opened them, looking at Red. "Okay. Fine. Tell me."

"The wedding is happening. Prince James is marrying Midas' daughter." Red paused for a moment. "In two days' time." Snow blinked at that, shocked. "You okay?"

"I just thought the longer I was out here the easier it would be to forget him. But...," Snow paused, looking down and shaking her head. "Instead, all I do is think about him."

"I'm sorry," Red whispered.

"I wish there was a way to get him out of my head," said Snow. Red realized that there was something that she could take to forget all about Prince James. "What? Is there?" she asked.

"Of course not. I mean, that would be...," Red said, lying to Snow.

"Red, what do you know?" Snow pressed. "Come on, I helped you when no one else would. What do you know?"

Red didn't say a single word for a whole sixty seconds. "Well, there are whispers. Whispers of a man who can achieve even the most unholy of requests. A man who can do what you ask."

"Who is this man?" Snow asked in a whisper.

It was night, the lake was covered in a thick fog and Snow was rowing the boat near a low dock, she had her hood up. She got up and off the boat and got onto the dock, bending down and she tied her boat to one of the poles.

"How much for this?" said a familiar voice. It was Rumplestiltskin. Snow jerked her head up and looked at him then down the dock and back at Rumplestiltskin.

"Excuse me?" Snow breathed out.

"Your boat. Exquisite craftsmanship," Rumplestiltskin commented.

"It's not for sale," Snow said firmly.

"Of course it is, dearie," he said. "No one comes to see me without a deal in mind."

Snow just finished tying up the boat, she slowly stood up and looked at him. "So, you're Rumplestiltskin."

He stood up on the boat, looking at her. "Indeed, I am." He walked off the boat and onto the dock. "I've been looking forward to meeting you." He took a step closer to Snow and placed his hands on her cheeks. "Wow. You really are the fairest of them all, aren't you?" He slowly pulled his hands away, and Snow gulped. "What can I do for you?" he asked.

"I need a cure," Snow said.

"What ails you, child?" he asked.

"A broken heart," she stated.

"Ah! The most painful of afflictions." He circled her slowly. "Well, I'm afraid if you want me to make him love you, no can do. Nothing can."

"No, that's not the problem. We can't be together," Snow said quickly.

"Now that, I can help you with." He turned to face her with a smile on his lips. He took out a small vial, gave a high-pitched giggle, and showed it to Snow. He bent down and got on one knee, took off the lid, and dipped the vial into the water. He took it out and held it up at eye level to him, it was now turning into a white color in the vial.

Snow was watching the whole thing. "That'll do it?" she asked, confused.

"Not yet. No two loves are exactly alike," He said, looking over at her with a smile. He stood up slowly. "We must make this...," he reached over and yanked a few pieces of hair from Snow's head, she yelped in pain. "Personal."

"So, if I drink that, I'll no longer love him?" Snow asked.

"The next time you see the object of your grief, you won't even remember who he is."

"Won't remember him?" she asked, her voice saddened at the thought.

"Love is the most powerful magic, so the cure must be extreme."

"Extreme sounds like an understatement."

"Don't doubt yourself now, dearie. Love makes us sick. It haunts our dreams and destroys our days. Love has killed more than any disease. This cure is a gift."

"What's your price?"

"These will do," he said, holding up the few strands of her hair.

"What do you need of my hair?" she asked.

"What do you need of it, now it's been plucked from your head?" he asked in return. "Do we have a deal?" Snow took the vial from his hand while looking him in the eyes. "I thought so. Drink it in good health, Snow White." He turned his back to her and started walking down the dock while she watched him, waving at her, and the fog closed around him, and he wasn't there anymore.

Mary Margaret was at a grocery store, she had a small basket in her hands and her basket had a few things in it already. She saw chocolate bars on a shelf, she eyed them, took one, and put it in her basket. She rounded the corner to go to the next aisle then she bumped into Kathryn Nolan—David Nolan's wife—and they both yelped in surprise and they dropped their baskets onto the floor. "I'm so sorry," Mary Margaret said.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it," Kathryn said with a smile on her face.

"I wasn't looking," Mary Margaret said, they both bent down to pick up their things.

"Clearly," Regina said, she had seen the whole thing.

"Oh, is this yours?" Kathryn asked, holding the chocolate.

"Yes, thank you. And this must...," Mary Margaret started to ask as she picked up the pregnancy test off the floor. "Good luck," she said, giving her a weak smile and handing her the pregnancy test.

"Thank you," said Kathryn, taking the test from her. They both stood up after picking up the stuff off the floor.

Mary Margaret watched Kathryn walk away and down the aisle, Regina walked over to her. "I trust you'll be discreet," Regina said, Mary Margaret wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion. "Their lives are their business. Not yours." Mary Margaret nodded and Regina walked away from her. Mary Margaret was broken even more by the thought of David and Kathryn having kids. She wanted to be happy for them but she knew deep down that she couldn't be happy for them. She was jealous of how happy they were.

Music was playing throughout the castle, Prince James was standing in the doorway of the balcony, he stood their arms crossed. He was thinking about Snow White. He wanted to see her again but he knew that he couldn't. "James," said King George.

"How goes the feast?" asked Prince James, turning to face his father.

"Your absence is felt. It is, after all, in your honor." Prince James walked into the room further toward his father. "I thought this might rouse you from your chamber." He lifted up the lid and showed Prince James a golden grown.

"You could feed the kingdom for an entire winter with that crown," Prince James commented.

"It's a gift. From King Midas," said King George, shocked. "For you to wear as you marry his daughter. Once that is done, our new prosperity will allow us to feed the kingdom for all eternity." He smiled at his son. "Show some enthusiasm."

"Enthusiasm wasn't part of the deal. The wedding is in two days. I have honored your wishes," Prince James said with bitterness.

"Well, I want your heart, not just your honor," said King George.

"My heart shall belong to Abigail," Prince James said, he was about to turn away.

"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" King George asked in a bitter tone. "Your heart can't belong to Abigail when it's held by another woman. And don't deny it. I know that look. Who is she?" he demanded.

"I met her on a journey. We haven't seen each other since, but she's stayed with me," Prince James explained.

"Forget her."

"You speak as if that's so easy."

"Nobility was not meant to be easy. All this wealth?" King George placed a hand on the crown. "The power we hold over other men's lives? Do you think that comes at no cost?"

"I asked for none of it."

"You were chosen. To be my son. Plucked from poverty, wanting for nothing. Be thankful for that."

"It wasn't charity, Father. It was the only way to save your kingdom."

"Watch yourself, boy. This is a choice you made, a role you have taken. Honor it. There is too much at stake." King George stood in front of Prince James. "Do whatever it takes to get that woman out of your head because nothing is gonna stop this wedding," he threatened as he turned his back to his son and walked out of the room, while Prince James watched.

Prince James quickly went to his small desk, opened up his bottle of ink, grabbed a piece of paper, and started writing to Snow White. "Dearest Snow," he started to write.

Once he was done, he went back to the balcony and folded up the piece of paper, he placed it on the bird's leg and let go of the bird into the air. He watched the bird fly away with a smile on his face. "Find her," he said to the bird.

Mary Margaret was on the path in the woods, she was just taking in the air and the quiet before the storm came in. It always calmed her down and let her think. A dove started cooing down a dirt hill, Mary Margaret stopped in her tracks and looked around as she tried to figure out where it was coming from. The dove's wings started flapping and she looked over the edge of the dirt hill, seeing the injured dove, she slowly walked down the hill toward the dove who was still cooing. The dove was in black plastic around the dove's body, not able to get out of it. "Oh! Hey." Mary Margaret quickly came to the dove's rescue and got the dove out of the plastic, holding the dove in her hands. "How did you manage to get yourself... Come on. It's gonna be okay," she said to the dove. She walked up the dirt hill slowly and carefully while holding the dove in her hands.

"Well, the good news is, no broken bones," said Dr. Thatcher. "She was just a little dehydrated. But I got her some fluids and she should be just fine."

"And the bad news?" she asked.

"Well, this is a North Atlantic dove. It's a migratory species, very unique among American doves. They tend to form strong, monogamous bonds, meaning...," Dr. Thatcher explained.

"If I don't get her back to her flock, she'll be alone forever," she finished the sentence for him. Mary Margaret looked over at David and David looked back at her.

"Well, it's a long shot, but the alternative," Dr. Thatcher said while putting the dove in a cage big enough for the dove. "She'll heal but she won't be happy here."

"I'll take my chances. Thank you, Doctor," she said.

"You're welcome. Good luck," said Dr. Thatcher, he walked away from her and David stayed with her.

Mary Margaret grabbed the cage by the handles, and David quickly stood behind the desk. "Mary Margaret, there's a storm coming. You really shouldn't go out there." David said, concern in his voice.

"Well, the storm's coming tomorrow. And if I wait, she could be lost forever. Completely alone. No one deserves that," she said, about to walk out.

"Then let me drive you," David said quickly.

"I don't need your help, David. I'll be fine," Mary Margaret said, she quickly walked out of the pet shelter and David watched her leave.

David sighed heavily then he picked up one of the dove's feathers, looking at it, he was thinking about Mary Margaret and he was worried about her and what could have happened if the storm had done.

Emma Swan was outside in rain gear, she was putting bags for things in case of a storm emergency, and she was listening to the radio while putting the bags in the trunk of the police car. "Storybrooke has seen wind gusts of up to 50 miles an hour. Your best bet is to stay in the house...," said the man on the radio. Emma looked over to the side on who turned it off, she should have known who it was and it was Regina.

"If you're looking to blame me for the storm, I think you're taking things a bit far now," Emma said, picking up the rest of the bags into the trunk of the car.

"I need you to look into something, Sheriff," said Regina. "Someone's in town. Someone new."

"Yeah. I know. I gave I'm directions to Granny's the other night," Emma explained.

"You talked to him? What did he say?" Regina asked urgently.

"He asked for directions. What's the big deal? Who is he?" Emma asked, wondering what was the big deal.

"I don't know," Regina admitted. "I've asked around, but no one seems to know anything. There's something about him. Something familiar."

"He must be one of the untold millions you cursed," Emma joked.

"What?" Regina asked, confused by Emma's comment.

"Oh, you know, the curse. Henry's whole thing," Emma explained.

"Sheriff, I need you to find out who he is," Regina said, getting back on the subject. "What he wants. And what he's doing here."

"You know, as hard as you tried to find one in my case, there is no law against visiting Storybrooke," Emma said, smiling a little.

"This isn't about the law, Miss Swan," Regina said, firmly. "You're gonna do this because I asked you to. And because you'll see it's the right thing to do."

Emma closed the trunk of the car, looking at Regina as she sighed heavily. "And why is that?" she asked.

"Because he was in front of my house. Taking a particular interest in the one thing we both care about. Henry."

Emma thought about it for a moment as she looked at the pavement and then looked back up at Regina. "I'll look into him," she said, finally agreeing. She walked past Regina and Regina looked up at the sky, it was graying with clouds.

Thunder started to clap and the wind started picking up a bit, Mary Margaret was in her car and drove down the dirt path where she had found the dove. The dove was flapping its wings, wanting to get out of that cage.

Snow White held the potion that she got from Rumplestiltskin, she was wondering whether or not to take it now or when she's really truly in pain. She couldn't believe that she had to give up on the man she loved. For the sake of King George's. She wanted to stop the wedding but she couldn't. It wouldn't be fair. Breaking her thoughts, the dove flew onto her hand and cooed at her, she looked at the dove and noticed the letter on its leg. She carefully took it off of the dove and the dove flew away. She put the potion into her bag and carefully untied the message, it said:

Dearest Snow,

I've not heard from you since our meeting, and can only assume you found the happiness you desired. But I must let you know, not a day goes by that I have not thought of you. In two days' time, I'm to be married. Come to me before then. Come to me and show me you feel the same, and we can be together forever. And if you don't, I'll have my answer.

After reading the letter, a few tears came down her face with a smile on her lips and she pressed the letter to her chest. She couldn't believe that he wanted to meet her. Maybe they could run away together and be together in the forest. Her heart was thumping and it was loud.

Mary Margaret was in her Jeep, riding down the dirt path she leaned forward a bit as she was trying to look at the dove's flock. She pressed the brakes of her Jeep and leaned forward noticing a sign, that said: Road Closed. She parked her Jeep and turned off the car as she looked forward. "Well, the flock can't be much further. We just have to beat this storm." She said to herself while taking off her seatbelt. "They're waiting for you." She said to the dove while taking the cage and getting out of her Jeep and closing the door, putting up the hood of the jacket as she looked up at the thundering sky.

Snow White puts her hood up as she is trying not to get seen by the guards and people, she is trying to sneak into the kingdom, trying to see her true love—Prince James. "Why aren't you at the stables yet?" asked a man. "Must I have a guard drag you there? And you, go with him." Snow had a big wooden bowl filled with large sunflowers, she quickly walked up to the guard and she kept her head down. "King George's carriage must be spotless for tomorrow's journey."

"Flowers for Prince James from the kingdom of Midas," said Snow to the guard, keeping her head down.

He looked at her then at the list then back at her, trying to remember. It took him a minute to answer, jabbing his thumb in the direction. "Top of the northeast spire," said the guard. "Take the service stairwell or the guards will toss you over the walls." Snow nodded once before walking away, she walked up the service stairwell just like she was told.

Snow White finally got up to the castle without anyone seeing her or realizing that it was her. She got into a room and set the sunflowers down on the floor, taking off her cloak on the floor as she took the note out from her sleeve and opened the note with a big grin on her lips then a door was opening when she looked up, dropping the note on the floor. She quickly hid behind a pillar, she noticed that the note was on the floor and she quickly ran to it and bent down, picking it up and walking back to the pillar again.

Prince James came walking down the hall and Snow turned her head and moved to the other side so whoever the person she was hiding from wouldn't see her. Then she peeked over to the side to see Prince James then all of a sudden a hand went over her mouth and she screamed but it was muffled and she tried to get out of the man's grip on her. He dragged her down to the chambers as Snow was grunting loudly and the guard pushed her into one of the cells, closing the door and locking it.

"Wait. I'm a Royal emissary," Snow called out to the guard.

The guard held up the note in his hand, looking at it. "Sure you are," said the guard. "The King will decide your fate." He walked away as Snow tried to pull on the lock, grunting in frustration. Then grabbed the bars and started shaking them trying to see if they had a weak spot but they didn't, unfortunately. Snow had an idea, she got on a bar that went across the cell bars and was looking for a weak spot just above the cell door, she was pressing against the metal. She got down off the wooden bar and was looking for a way to get out of the cell, she got on the rocks in the corner and started climbing then she fell on the hard ground, she groaned in pain and coughed. "Oh...," she breathed out.

Another person was in the next cell, he started whistling in the dark corner. Snow slowly turned to look at the other, he got up and walked slowly to the bars. "Who's there?" Snow asked, but he continued to whistle. She sat up and looked at the other more intensely and who she saw wasn't who she expected. It was a man who was bald with black facial hair and big ears, he was short and a little bit on the chunky side. "What are you looking at, sister?" he asked. Snow brushed off the straw from her clothes. "Tried it all. Steel gets stronger as we grow weaker." He explained as Snow tried to pull the lock off again.

"Well, I am not giving up," Snow said, panting heavily as she kept pulling and tugging on the lock. She found a small metal piece that was on the ground and started messing with the lock.

"Give it time," he said. "Grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy. I'm focused."

"No. My name. Grumpy. And I'm telling you, there's no way out."

"Well, I'm Snow. And I'll find one."

"If you say so."

"There's someone out there for me. Someone I love very much and I will not lose him." Snow explained while pushing the straws away, looking for something—anything to get her out of this cell.

"Love, huh?" Grumpy asked bitterly. "Good luck with that."

Snow got off the floor and went over to the cell door again. "What do you know about it?" Snow asked.

"It's why I'm stuck in this hole," Grumpy answered.

Snow groaned in frustration and sat on the floor, she wanted to get out of this cell and find her true love but it looked like she won't be leaving any time soon.

"I had it bad. She was beautiful as a fairy but I lost her. I was desperate to get her back. So I came up with a plan. I worked at the diamond mines. I traded all my wages to the foreman for a diamond to propose. But I got swindled. It was a stolen rock and I took the blame. I'm no thief, but they think I am. I should've known better, but I wasn't thinking clearly. All 'cause of love. Now, here I am, trapped, with no way out," Grumpy explained why he was in the cell.

"I know a way out," said a man. He was walking down the hall, wearing a black bandana that was covering half his face then he pulled down the bandana with a huge smile on his face.

"Stealthy?" Grumpy asked in surprise.

"You ready to go home?" Stealthy asked Grumpy, he had the keys in his hands and unlocked the cell for Grumpy.

"How did you get in here?" Grumpy asked. He was happy to see his brother, saving him.

"Doc whipped up a sleeping gas, and knocked all the guards out cold," Stealthy explained. "The rest are waiting with transport."

"There's more of you?" Snow asked.

Stealthy looked at Snow with a smile. "Who's that? She pretty." He looked back at Grumpy.

"No one. Come on, let's go," Grumpy said, he put on his hat and walked out of the cell with a huge grin on his face. Snow looked sad that they were leaving her behind.

"Grumpy, good luck," said Snow softly. "I hope you get your love back."

Grumpy and Stealthy stopped in their tracks. Stealthy looked at Grumpy and shook his head, it wasn't a good idea to bring her along. He thought it would be a waste of time to unlock the cell and all.

"Son of a...," Grumpy muttered under his breath. "Give me that." He held out his hand then he walked back to the cell with the key in his hand, he unlocked it and opened the door. "Come on." He nodded his head toward the hall, Snow smiled at Grumpy.

Mary Margaret was on the side of the road, the wind was blowing hard and the leaves on the ground were scattered, hearing the flock of the injured dove. "Do you hear that? Your flock." She said to the dove while running to the same spot she found the dove and she heard the wings flapping, she looked in the trees to see where they were but she couldn't find them. She was getting a bit concerned that they may have left already, so she set the cage down and looked over the edge of the hill. A thunder clapped, Mary Margaret looked up at the sky and her foot slipped and she screamed, tumbling down the hill as she grabbed a hold of a tree root and she was dangling over the edge of a cliff. She was holding onto dear life to not fall to her death, she was slowly sliding down but she kept tightening her grip.

"Here," David said before coming to her recuse, he held out his hand.

"David?" she called out in shock, she didn't notice that he was following her.

"Grab my hand," he said. Mary Margaret was hesitant at first but she quickly grabbed his hand, and his other hand grabbed onto a root. "Hold tight," he yelled down to her, he pulled her up and over the edge of the hill. "Come on." She helped him help her get over the edge. Once they got over the edge they fell into each other's arms and looked at each other. "You really think I'd let you come out here alone?" he asked. "You okay?"

She nodded her head, panting hard. "I'm fine, thanks." She started walking back up the hill and David watched her and quickly followed up the hill.

"Where are you going?" David yelled to her.

"I came to find the flock," Mary Margaret answered.

"And I came here to get you before you got hurt. We have to go." David said they both found their way to the road, the wind getting worse.

"No!" Mary Margaret yelled out to David, she ran toward the dove that was in the cage.

"Doing this on foot is not the best plan," David shouted, trying to catch up to her.

"The gate was closed," she said, the rain started pouring down fast and hard. She picked up the cage.

"I know. I saw. It's too late. We have to go." David said, trying to get her out of the storm.

"No, but the—," Mary Margaret started saying before David interrupted her.

"Mary Margaret, it's not safe. We need to get out of here. Come on." David tugged on Mary Margaret's raincoat and walked down the road.

Snow White, Grumpy, and Stealthy walked down the underground hall trying to find a way out. Then Snow found stairs and stopped the two Dwarfs. "Wait, wait! Stairs!" she whispered loud enough for the two can hear her.

"No, we sneak out through the courtyard," Stealthy whispered back.

"No, it's safer if we climb over the curtain wall," Snow said, trying to convince Stealthy. "Trust me, hiding from royals is my life."

"No, the courtyard is clear now, but it won't be for much longer," Stealthy said then looked at Grumpy.

"Sorry, lady, Stealthy got me this far," Grumpy whispered, the two Dwarfs walked away from Snow.

"Grumpy. Grumpy, wait!" Snow called out to him but they kept going, leaving Snow near the staircase.

Stealthy and Grumpy were in the courtyard and just as Stealthy had said, they both looked around the courtyard to make sure that nobody saw them and not get caught. "Halt! Those two are prisoners!" said a guard who noticed them and King George was with the guards.

"Grumpy! Run We can make it," said Stealthy, he started to run.

"Stealthy, no!" Grumpy said he didn't dare move a single inch.

A guard on the roof of the castle had a bow-and-arrow in his hand and aimed it towards Stealthy, releasing the arrow and hitting Stealthy in the chest, he gasped and his eyes were wide, falling down to the ground.

"No!" Grumpy shouted, kneeling down next to Stealthy and placing his hand on his chest, he started sobbing when King George and his guards came over to Grumpy and Stealthy.

"Where is the girl?" King George asked Grumpy.

Grumpy looked up at him. "What girl?" he asked.

"Kill him," King George demanded.

The guard walked over to him, took his sword out, and placed it behind his head, swinging it over his shoulder and about to kill him when Snow White appeared.

"Looking for me?" Snow asked, holding the torch in her hand. "Let him go," she lowered it towards the hay, "or this place will burn," she threatened him, they stared at each other for a long moment before King George spoke.

"Begone, dwarf," King George said without looking at Grumpy.

Grumpy looked at Snow and shook his head slightly. "Go, Grumpy!" Snow said she nodded once with a smile on her face. The guard pushed him over with his foot as Grumpy grunted and got up, running away from the scene.

"Now, Snow White," King George said, standing in front of her. Two guards walked up behind her, one took the torch from her hand and the other put her hands behind her back. "We need to talk."

Mary Margaret and David were still out in the storm, fighting the harsh wind and rain. David noticed a long cabin and pointed it to Mary Margaret. "There!" He shouted to her. "Come on." He helped her protect the dove's cage from the rain and quickly walked toward the log cabin. They peered into the window to see if they could see if anyone was living in it or staying in the log cabin.

"Hello? Hello, is anyone in there?" Mary Margaret yelled, hoping that someone was in this log cabin. They walked down to the next window, peering inside but realized that it was empty. "It's empty."

The door starts ratting from the wind, David tried opening the door but couldn't open it. He backed up and kicked the door in, opening the door instantly. Mary Margaret shivered as she walked into the cabin, David closed the door and he looked around for a moment before he exhaled.

David started the fire and Mary Margaret stood near the fireplace, David turned to look at her. "Okay. Let's get you dry," he said softly, he got up and looked around to find something for her.

"Whose cabin is this?" Mary Margaret asked him, looking over her shoulder. "You sure it's okay for us to be in here?"

"Well, you're roommates with the sheriff, so I doubt she'll arrest us for breaking and entering," David said with a smile while unfolding the blanket that he found, walking over to her, and wrapping it around her shoulders. "Here." She pushed the blanket off of her, she didn't want him to touch her mostly because if he did she would want to kiss him. "Hey, I'm just trying to help." He muttered and Mary Margaret nodded. "What's going on with you today?" he asked, confused.

"What's going on?" Mary Margaret asked with a shaky voice. "What's going on is I still have feelings for you," she finally admitted to him and herself.

"What?" David asked, shocked.

"Why do you think I go to Granny's every morning at 7:15?" she asked, looking up at him. "It's to see you." Tears pooled in her brown eyes. "And I don't know why. Because it just makes me miserable, because every time I see you, it just reminds me that you chose Kathryn instead of me." She took a breath and David shook his head looking down. "And that's why I didn't want you to come to the woods with me. Because being around you is too...," She sighed heavily. "It's too painful." David chuckles at her words. "You think this is funny?"

"No!" David paused for a moment. "No, it's just... The reason I go to Granny's every morning at 7:15," he paused for another moment, "is to see you," he whispered. They both looked at each other shocked and relieved that they both finally told their feelings to each other. "Oh...," he whispered.

They both looked into each other's eyes as they both slowly leaned in, they were about to kiss when Mary Margaret pulled back. "How can you do this?" Mary Margaret whispered.

"What are you talking about?" David asked.

"David, I know."

"You know what?"

"About Kathryn."

"What about Kathryn?"

"That she thinks she's pregnant."

"What?" he whispered in disbelief.

Emma Swan walked into Granny's Diner, she stood in front of the door and shook off the rainwater from her jacket, she stopped and looked over and saw the stranger that she met just a few nights ago. He was just sitting there with a cup in front of him with the candle in the middle of the table just staring straight ahead. She slowly walked over and took off her black-knitted hat.

"We need to talk," Emma said to the mysterious man.

"Why?" he asked, still looking ahead and he had his box down at his feet, underneath the table.

"Because you're suspicious," Emma said, standing in front of him.

"Sitting here. Out in the open. Drinking coffee." He paused for a moment. "Wonder what kind of hell I would've raised had I ordered a donut," he said sarcastically.

"You were talking to Henry."

"You mean the little kid who came up to me asking me questions? Is that unusual for him? Being curious and precocious?"

"What were you doing outside his house?"

"My bike broke down. It happens."

Emma eyed the box. "Your mysterious box. What's in it?" she asked.

"It's awfully frustrating not knowing, isn't it?" he asked

"Just tell me," she said, getting frustrated.

"Why? Is it illegal to carry around a box in these parts?" he asked.

"No, of course it's not."

"You really wanna know what's inside it, don't you?"

"No!" Emma said then he gave her a look. "Well, maybe." She sat down across from him in the booth.

"I'm gonna make you wait. You're gonna have to wait a long time and watch me carry it around. Hauling it to strange and mysterious places. And with each passing moment, the mystery will become more tantalizing. Your imagination will inflame, but so will your frustration. Never knowing, only guessing, what could possibly be inside that box?" He leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table. "Or, you could let me buy you a drink sometime and I'll tell you right now."

"You wanna buy me a drink," Emma said, surprised.

"Yes."

"Okay. A drink it is." He pushed aside his cup of coffee and brought up his box, unlocking the box and opening it. Inside it was a typewriter, Emma was confused. "Really?" she asked, looking at the man.

"I'm a writer," he simply answered.

"That's why you're here?" she asked.

"I find this place provides inspiration. Don't you?" He closed his box and locked it up, getting up from the booth.

"Wait. Have you been here before?" she asked, curiously.

"I didn't say that." He took out a ten-dollar bill and placed it on the table, picked up his box, and started walking towards the back.

Emma turned around to look at him. "What about that drink?" she asked.

He stopped and turned to look at her. "I said 'sometimes'." He gave her a smile then he walked off and out of Granny's Diner while Emma watched him leave. She was still going to keep an eye on him.

Mary Margaret closed her eyes, regretting her words instantly. "You didn't know," she whispered.

David shook his head. "No," he whispered, still shocked.

"And you two aren't trying...,"

"Not as far as I know. Mary Margaret, you have to believe me."

"Shh. David." Mary Margaret looked out the window. "The rain stopped. I need to get her out." She quickly walked around David to grab the cage.

David turned around, still holding the blanket. "No—Mary Margaret." He set the blanket down and went after her as she walked outside again. "Mary Margaret, please. Can we at least talk—" The storm has completely stopped and the leaves are falling down to the ground.

"Shh! Listen." Mary Margaret said to him, she could hear wings flapping as she looked up in the sky and they saw the doves flying and cooing. "The flock, they didn't leave." She smiled.

"They must've been waiting for the storm to clear," said David, looking at the sky as well.

Mary Margaret set the cage down and opened the lid, sticking her hand and cupping the dove in her hands. "Okay," she whispered. "Okay, girl. Time to join your friends. You can do it," she told the dove and threw her into the air, and the dove flew and followed her flock. They both watched as the doves flew away and tried to find a better place to live. David's hand went to Mary Margaret's and he squeezed her hand gently. "No, David. It's too painful." She pulled her hand away and he sighed softly.

"It doesn't have to be," David said, looking at her. "We don't know Kathryn's pregnant."

"Doesn't matter. You chose her." She turned to face him.

"I know. But I still have feelings for you."

"You can't have both."

"But I do have both. I know. I know it doesn't make sense. But it's like I have these two conflicting lives. Memories of feelings for her, and real feelings for you."

"Who's to say which is real?"

"I can't get you out of my head."

"I know. Me too. But we're going to have to. We're just going to have to forget each other," she said firmly, walking past him and leaving him behind, standing there all by himself.

King George and Snow White stood in his room, the fireplace was burning and they stood a foot away from it. King George cupped Snow's cheek, "So you're the one." He said, taking his hand off her cheek.

"I don't know what you're...," Snow started saying before she got interrupted by the king.

"Enough. I know everything," King George said, holding up the note. "You've poisoned his heart, now his marriage. And with that, the entire kingdom. All because of your feelings."

"I wish feelings could be helped, but they can't," Snow said.

"Of course they can," King George said firmly. "Love is a disease. And like all diseases, it can be vanquished in one of two ways. A cure, or death. Do you know where your beloved is right now? He's right down that hallway, packing for his new life." He pointed out the door.

Snow looked where he looked. "And he'll never know I'm here."

"Oh, yes, he will," King George said, looking at Snow. "Because you are gonna walk down that hallway, Snow White. You're gonna sneak in and tell him you received his letter. You're gonna tell him why you're here. Because you don't love him. It'll break his heart. And that will cure him."

"Or you'll kill me," Snow said simply.

"Oh, no. I'll kill him. Killing you would just make him love you more and the marriage and the kingdom would ultimately crumble. But if he were to die at an assassin's hand, he would die a martyr. Midas would forgive even laud, the death. And the merger would be complete," King George threatened.

"You would do that to your own son?" Snow asked.

"He is not my son," King George said, getting in her face then he backed up from her.

Snow walked down to Prince James' room, poked her head in, and saw Prince James packing his bag, she came her back against the wooden door as her eyes filled with tears. Prince James still hasn't noticed Snow coming in but she kept watching him before she left him for good. She closed the door with her back which made Prince James look up and stop packing his bags. She walked toward him and nodded once, looking at him with sad eyes. "James," Snow said.

"Snow," James breathed out softly, smiling at her.

"I got your letter," Snow stated.

"You came. You came!" James ran to her and hugged her tightly. "You came!" He spun her around in his arms, happy and content that she actually came to see him and not have to marry Princess Abigail. He laughed that he hadn't had to go through this wedding. He set her back down on the ground. "You came," he said once more. He was about to kiss her but Snow pushed him back.

"Wait, James," Snow said, placing her hand on his chest. "Us," she hesitated on the words, "it can't happen."

"What's wrong? Of course, it can," Prince James reassured her. "You're here. We can go. We can be together. We can leave all this. I know there are costs, but I've planned for everything." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. "They can't hurt us. And now that I know that you love me too—"

"I don't," Snow said automatically with tears in her eyes.

"What?" James asked, shocked and hurt by the words she said.

"Love you. I don't." Snow repeated, it was hard to say that to him because she knew that she was in love with him. "I'm sorry. You said I would always be in your heart and that is too cruel a fate. Go live your life. Live it without me because there is no place for us together." A single tear left James' left eye as he listened to her. "And fill your heart with love for someone else. Someone who can love you the way I never have. The way I never will." Snow took out the note and handed it to James, he looked down at it and took it from her hand. She walked past him and she was trying not to make a sound, tears streamed down her face as she walked out of the door and out of the castle.

David Nolan was in his bedroom as he put on a dark blue plaid shirt while looking at Kathryn in the mirror, Kathryn sighed exhausted as she sat down on the small bench at the end of their bed.

"Anything you wanna tell me?" David asked, buttoning up his shirt.

Kathryn looked over at him, confused. "What do you mean?" she asked, putting on her shoes.

"Something's up. Isn't it?" he asked, still looking at her through the mirror with a small smile. "What?"

"I feel like ever since you've come home, you're here, but you're not here." Kathryn tried to explain. "I know you say you're trying and I know you've been through a lot, but—"

"No, no, Kathryn...," David turned around to face her.

"No, David, please. Just let me finish." Kathryn interrupted and he let her finish. "I know it's been hard on you, but it's also been hard on me." David started walking towards her slowly. "I want a family with you someday. I want children. I'll be honest. I thought I was pregnant. And when the test came back negative, at first I was upset, but then I was relieved. We're not ready. If I was pregnant now, it would be a disaster."

"Yeah," David agreed.

"But I wanna fix this. I wanna fix us."

"Me too," David agreed once again.

"Do you?" Kathryn challenged him, and David nodded. "Well, then let's go see Dr. Hopper. Let's get some help. Will you do that? Will you give us our best shot?"

David nodded his head. "Yeah," he agreed again. "Look," he sat down next to her on the bench, "you and I, I know we're... I know we should be in love. And I wanna make that work."

Kathryn smiled at David and she was happy to hear those words from him, she wanted nothing more than to be with him and to have kids and actually be in love with her. This was her dream to have David all to herself. She looked over at the clock and then back at David. "It's 7:10," she said, David looked over at the clock as well. "We should get going if you want your coffee before work." She stood up from the bench and turned to look at him in surprise.

"No," David said, he stood up and took her hands into his. "Why don't we go downstairs and have some breakfast instead?"

"Okay," Kathryn nodded.

"All right." David leaned in and kissed her cheek. Kathryn smiled at him and walked to the kitchen, leaving David behind in the bedroom.

Snow White was far from the castle, she was now in the Enchanted Forest. She stopped in her tracks and looked back at the castle, thinking about Prince James and his soon-to-be wife Princess Abigail. Wishing that it was her and not Princess Abigail. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned back and started walking down a dirt path.

Grumpy and his brother came and walked with her. "You okay, sister?" Grumpy asked, standing next to her and looking at her.

Snow looked at the other dwarfs, she shook her head. "Not even close," she said, voice breaking.

"You didn't find him?" Grumpy asked.

"Worse. I lost him."

"Come on."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Home," Grumpy simply said. "We all lost someone today."

"Now we're seven," Doc said—who was wearing a red hat and wired-rimed glasses, he had a big nose and his bread was from one sideburn to the other sideburn—he was holding a lantern in his hand.

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you," Grumpy said. "So you're coming home with us, Snow. And we're gonna protect you."

"The only thing that needed protection is destroyed. My heart," Snow said, stopping to look at Grumpy.

"It will get better," Grumpy reassured her.

"Yes," Snow said, nodding her head. "Yes, it will." She took out the potion that the Dark One made for her heartbreak. "This will take all of my feelings. All of my pain. And destroy them."

"No," Grumpy said sharply, taking the potion out of Snow's hand.

"Why? You of all people should understand. You've lost love. What if your pain could be erased?"

"I don't want my pain erased. As wretched as it is, I need my pain. It makes me who I am. It makes me Grumpy," Grumpy said firmly and Snow smiled. "Look around, Snow. You're not alone anymore. I promise you, that's all the cure you need. If the pain is too much, you can always drink it. But for today? Put it away." He handed the potion back to her.

"Okay," Snow whispered, taking the potion and pocketing it in her small pouch. She looked at him for a moment before taking his hand into hers and started walking down the dirt path.

Emma is wearing a sea blue blouse, a dark pair of jeans, a pair of black leather boots, and an emerald green necklace—she was walking to the dining room with a glass of orange juice and she was drinking it with a bowl of Fruit Loops while Mary Margaret was already sitting at the table. Emma started eating her cereal while Mary Margaret stared at the clock from across the room and Emma looked at the clock as well. Emma wasn't sure what to say to her but she leaned in slightly and took her hands into her own, squeezing them. They both smile at one another.

Prince James was on a horse and riding the horse as fast as he could, then he slowed down after he reached his destination. "Come on, you. Snow!" James called out her name. "Snow White!" He stopped the horse in front of a beautiful field of flowers, jumped off the horse, and started walking. "Snow! Are you there?" he called out again.

Red was coming out of the field, it was all tree branches and weeds that grew high. "She's gone," Red said to the man, carrying the basket in her hand. "She never came back after she went to find you." She walked closer to him.

"Then I'll find her," Prince James promised to himself. "I will always find her." He ran back to the horse.

Grumpy came running into his and his brother's house, he had some exciting news to share with Snow, and he looked around trying to find her. "Where's Snow? Where is she?" he asked Doc, pointing towards the bedroom. "Snow! Snow!" he called her name, walking toward the bedroom. "The royal wedding! The kingdom's abuzz! It's off, Snow. He left her. James left Abigail! Did you hear me?" he said excitedly. "Your Prince Charming isn't getting married." He smiled at her.

Snow looked at Grumpy, her expression was empty and clueless about what Grumpy was talking about. "Who?" she asked.

Grumpy's face dropped then he looked over at the potion—that was now empty—on the nightstand next to her bed.

It was 7:45 in the morning, and Mary Margaret was at Granny's Diner grabbing a cup of coffee. "Thanks, Ruby," she said with a smile. Then the door opened and Mary Margaret looked over to see who came in and you'll never believe who it was—David Nolan.

He stood there looking shocked and he quickly turned around, walking out of the diner. Mary Margaret quickly went after him before she lost him, David ran down the sidewalk trying to lose her.

She finally caught up to him. "What are you doing?" she called out to him.

David turned around to face her in the middle of the street. "It's 7:45," he said.

"I know!" she said.

"Well, I'm trying not to see you," he said.

"Well, I am trying not to see you," she said.

"Well, how do we stop seeing each other?" he asked.

"Apparently, we can't," she answered.

"This is a problem."

"Yes."

"She's not pregnant."

David and Mary Margaret looked at each other, they inched closer together and kissed each other passionately in the middle of the road, wrapping their arms around each other.

Regina Mills was sitting in her car and was watching them. And she was furious. She couldn't believe that this was happening and she tried so hard to not get them together, she didn't want this. She wanted to make Mary Margaret feel unhappy. She would do anything to keep them apart and she has the plan to keep them away.

Forever.