{ storybrooke }

06. { the shepherd }

The Nolans were holding a small party to celebrate David's return from the hospital. Emma was invited as she took part in the rescue of David after he just woke up from his coma.

The party was kind of bland, but Henry was keeping her entertained and so did Winter. It had taken the young girl a lot of pleading with Mr. Gold to allow her to attend the party, but Emma's promise to bring her home at a timely manner made him agree reluctantly. David had not yet arrived at the party, but Emma was able to help herself to a mug of coffee and a soda for both Winter and Henry.

When David and Kathryn finally arrived they welcomed the man back under a round of applause. Kathryn introduces her husband to everyone from their past, trying to ease his discomfort of not knowing anybody. Winter watches David interact with everybody quietly from the hallway while Henry sits on a bench besides her and speaks about the 'curse' to his mother.

"You know why he doesn't remember? The curse isn't working on him yet," he speaks. His voice was filled with confidence on his theory about David and tries to convince Emma to see the truth. He glances towards the silent brunette and raises an eyebrow. "Isn't that right, Winter?"

The eighteen year old tears her gaze away from watching the crowd move along and meets the boy's eyes. She tries to respond in the gentlest manner she could. "Please, Henry. You know what I think about the curse." She takes a quick sip from her cup of soda and fiddles with the pinky nail of her other hand.

Henry looks back at Emma, hoping he had been able to convince her. Emma speaks calmly to him so he would understand what she was saying. "Henry, David has amnesia," she says, emphasizing the word 'amnesia'. But Henry didn't easily back down. "Which is preventing the curse from replacing his fairy tale story with fake memories."

Emma had to give it to him, he was very stubborn. She decides to play along in his game. "Right, because everyone here has fake stories that prevent them from remembering who they really are," she says.

Henry doesn't catch up on her hint of sarcasm and continues. "Right and now is our chance to help him. We just have to get him to remember that he's-" "He's Prince Charming," Emma finishes for him, though it still sounds so ridiculous to her.

Henry nods his head. "We just have to jog his memory by getting him and Miss Blanchard together." Emma raises an eyebrow at her son. "Didn't you just try that?" Henry smiles in return. "And it woke him up.."

"Hey." A voice calls out to them. It draws Winter's attention back from watching people move around in the living room back to the conversation. The three of them look up to see David Nolan approaching them.

"You're the ones who saved me, right?" David eyes the three of them with a charming, kind smile displayed on his face. "Oh. Yeah, I-I guess," Emma replies with a slight stutter. Then David glances at Winter. His eyebrows knit together as if he was thinking. "Weren't... weren't you the daughter of that sort-of notorious pawnbroker and landlord here in town? What's his name?-"

Winter sheepishly pushes a lock of her brown hair behind her ear and chuckles nervously. "Mr. Gold? Yeah.. yeah, that's-that's me. Though I am not his daughter. Foster child, you see."

She blushes, her face turning a fiery red and she quickly looks down at her laced up boots again. This was so very embarrasing. Usually Winter never had to introduce herself around town. Everyone knew of her because everyone knew Mr. Gold. Now she was just one mumbling, blubbering mess.

David notices the blush on her face. He feels bad for putting her in this nervous state and tries to come over as non-judgemental as possible. "I understand. Uh, you're also the only ones I know here," he begins.