Beautiful Lily

Mary's favorite flowers

Mary opened the door which said, "Game of Thorns" and entered the shop. She closed the door and came upon the shop's glorious array of flowers. She walked around the lobby area and although her fantastic posture never wavered, she felt more relaxed. She felt like she was finally coming home to rest. Maurice heard the door open and close from the back of his shop and called out, "I'm sorry. Due to some unforeseen events, I'm closing the shop early."

"Maurice..." Mary called back softly.

At her voice, Maurice stopped what he was doing in the back and stepped out to greet the voice he knew and loved so well. He saw her and his heart practically stopped.

"Mary..." he replied back in disbelief, stunned by the sight of her and the sound of her name coming from his lips again. She smiled at the sight of him, but her smile quickly faded to sorrow as she reflected back to the last time she saw him. He immediately came forward to her with arms wide open. They came forward to each other and fell into a loving embrace, holding each other tightly. They both thought of the circumstances leading up to their departure and how, even after all this time, they managed to find each other.

"You haven't changed one bit," he remarked while holding her.

"You sir, have definitely grown older," she replied, speaking into his shoulder, "but all I see is the same strapping young man who gave me my favorite flower." He chuckled a little at her observation, but he couldn't hide his sadness as he sniffled at her shoulder.

"Mary..." he said, pulling apart from her with tears in his eyes, "I'm so sorry."

He reached for her hands and held them lovingly within his own. A tear escaped from the corner of his eye and she withdrew one of her hands to catch the tear as it fell from his face. "What are you sorry for? I'm the one who should be sorry."

Maurice shook his head, disagreeing with her. "Our daughter... I allowed her to make a deal with Rumplestiltskin. I lost her as I did with you to save our kingdom."

Mary reached up and gently touched Maurice's face. "You have done wonderfully raising Belle. She has grown into a beautiful and brilliant, loving young woman all because of you. I am just so incredibly sorry that I missed all those precious years. I was not there for you or her and I am afraid that makes me an awful mother."

"Don't say that. You're not an awful mother. It wasn't your fault. Your magic..."

Mary drew a finger to his lips to silence him. "It is alright. It is all in the past and we are finally here together, at last."

She slowly brought him close to her and they kissed each other slowly and tenderly on the lips. She hugged him one more time and closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder. They both inhaled each other deeply when she smelled the sweet floral aroma around her. The smell reminded her of how they met all those years ago. She thought about how he planted her favorite flower outside his shop. It was proof that he never stopped loving her. They held each other for another moment when she lifted her head up and asked, "My favorite flower. You remembered after all this time?"

"How could I ever forget?" he said beaming at her. "You know... roses are Belle's favorite."

Mary frowned when she pulled away from Maurice and stepped back with a sigh, "I'm afraid our Bluebell is very angry with me."

Maurice nodded in concurrence and picked up one of Belle's books which she left behind. He handed over the book to Mary and added, "Belle was in here earlier with this, claiming to have seen you. I knew it was only a matter of time before our paths would cross again."

She looked down at the book Maurice handed her and reflected sadly over it. She was flattered that Belle had longed to know her, but was saddened that all Belle had to know her by was this children's book. She placed the book back down on the counter next to them and remarked, "So much time lost. I missed out on so much of her childhood. I wish I could have been there for you both."