The Modern Fairy Tale Town Book 1: Magic is Coming

Chapter 9: The Shepherd

One night in Storybrooke, it was a very special night. A certain couple was walking back home. The couple was David Nolan and his wife Kathryn who was happily taking him home after his coma misadventures and spending a lot of time in the hospital away from his true life and happiness, but there was something extra inside tonight. They would find out about it momentarily as Kathryn reminded David of their good times together as husband and wife.

"You know, you had the same look on your face before we bought it, too," Kathryn smiled at her husband. "You couldn't see past the ugly windmill on the lawn and said you'd never buy an old lady house. Do you remember what made you change your mind?" she then rhetorically asked.

David just took a look around. "Well, I see the windmill's gone." he then said.

"Come on. Everyone's waiting." Kathryn smiled as she began to lead him in through the door.

"Who's 'everyone'?" David asked, even more lost and curious.

Kathryn didn't answer as she merely brought David in through the door to see various friends and neighbors from Storybrooke who clapped and cheered once they saw the man of the house. Even some of the teenagers were there while some complained that their parents made them go, though Mal seemed to mostly just be there for food while Jay and Carlos did as well, but they were focused on the chocolate fountain, seeming to take turns in playing around with it. Kathryn was soon introducing David to everybody, including someone very important.

"Hi, David," Dr. Whale greeted as even he came to the party. "Look, I know this is a lot, but it's good for you. The smallest thing can trigger your memories. Just try and have fun." he then advised.

"Thank you, Dr. Whale. I'll do my best." David nodded at him.

Mal rolled her eyes as Jay and Carlos were going for the chocolate fountain. "Looks like I'll have to have you guys plain." she then said to herself as she looked into her bowl of strawberries before walking away from the two chocaholics. She then looked for a place to sit before finding Evie and Henry talking with Emma on the stairs.

"You know why he doesn't remember?" Henry asked Evie and Emma as David was getting to know everybody again. "The curse isn't working on him yet."

"Henry, David has amnesia." Emma reminded the boy calmly.

"Well, it's preventing the curse from replacing his fairy tale story with fake memories." Henry replied.

"Because everyone here has fake stories that prevent them from remembering who they really are." Evie then said knowingly, almost sounding like she had been forced to memorize that as she said it for her brother.

"Right. And now's our chance to help him," Henry then added. "We just have to get him to remember that he's-"

"He's Prince Charming." Emma then memorized.

"We just have to jog his memory by getting him and Ms. Blanchard together." Henry then said.

"...I thought we already did that though?" Evie then said to Henry before holding her head as she had a funny feeling again.

"And it woke him up." Henry defended.

"Hey," David smiled as he came to join Evie, Emma, and Henry. "You're the ones who saved me, right?" he then asked.

"I guess you could say that." Evie said with a small smile back.

"And, uh, you're also the only ones I know here." David then added.

"You can hide with us." Emma offered.

"Fantastic." David smiled.

A man soon came by with a tray filled with appetizers.