Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 72 - Mary Margaret And David Make A Decision

One of the men held Charming down. His hands were tyed and he kneeled on the earthen ground. The other walked slowly towards him.
Charming's eyes darted between the men. "Who are you? What are you waiting for?"
The man walking towards him took a silverdagger from his belt.
"Do you think I fear you?"
The man cut the rope the tyed his hands together and stepped out of the way as Princess Abigail walked slowly towards him, pulling her horse.
She was now dressed in a red orange dress and a feathered hat and she wore a stern face.
"Abigail?" said Charming, confused.
She gave her horse to one of the men and stepped closer to him.
"What are you doing here?" asked Charming, getting to his feet.
"I wanted to get my hands on you before your father ripped you to shreds."
"How did you know I was going to be........"
"Because I have ears in the King's court." she interrupted. "And despite everyone's efforts to sheild me from it, I know the truth." she smiled a little and looked down at her feet. "You love Snow White......... And you have no intention of marrying me."
"I won't marry someone I don't love. Or give that despot the satisfaction that I helped him. And if that means suffering the consequences, so be it." he stepped closer to her.
"You're prepared to lay down you're life. How charming........ But I didn't come here to see you die....... I came here to help you escape."
"Why would you do anything to help me?"
"Because I don't want to marry you, either."

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Mary Margaret got out of her car and walked towards David who stood by the road.
"What did you tell her?" she asked.
"That I needed to take a walk. Clear my head. Think about it." he said.
They walked along the footpath.
"I'm guessing you didn't tell her the walk was with me."
"No. No, of course not."
She shook her head. "Why is that our default?" she looked up at him. "Lying."
"Because, I don't........."
"We're not being honest. I know it's hard. But we have to tell her the truth. About everything. About us." she stopped and looked at him.
"I don't know if I can."
"But you have to......... If we can't be honest with other people, how can we be honest with each other?"
"Is it really the best plan?"
"What's your plan?"
He shrugged and they began to walk again.
"Moving to Boston?" she said.
"No."
"The only way no one gets hurt here........is if we don't want to be together........ Is that what you want?"
He stopped and looked at her. "No."
"Well then we have to stop hiding and do something. It's better she hears it from you than from someone else. You have to make a choice."
"I choose you."
She smiled sadly. "Then it's time to tell Kathryn."
He nodded and Mary Margaret walked away. He turned and watched her go, slowly down the street.

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Emma walked down the street to Granny's Diner. She looked curiously as she walked at the motorcycle parked outside.
As she walked to the entrance, the mysterious biker man walked out.
"I've been meaning to bump into you." he said stepping closer to Emma. "Matter of fact, I was hoping we might grab that drink you promised."
She raised her eyebrows. "Is that you asking me out?"
"Well, if putting a label on it makes you more comfortable, sure, let's call it a date."
"I thought you came here to write. Find inspiration."
"Well, I'm optimistic about our date."
She smiled. "See, I have a policy. I won't go out with guys who won't tell me their names. I find it weeds out the ones who like to keep their secrets. Like their already married or they store body parts in their freezer.......... It was nice talking to you." she walked to the door of the Diner.
"It's August."
She turned to look at him and he did the same. "August W. Booth."
"Really? With the middle initial?"
"W is for Wayne.......... So there goes your reason for not meeting me here after work." he walked to his motorcycle and Emma stepped into the Diner, rowling her eyes.
Emma walked over to Mary Margaret and sat down next to her.
"How was that?" asked Mary Margaret as she listened to August driving away.
"I don't know yet."
"Yet. So you're going to find out?" "It's nothing."
Mary Margaret squinted at her. "Nothing with you means something. Because if it were nothing, we wouldn't be talking about it."
Emma leaned forward. "I'm sorry, I thought you called me here to talk about you."
"Yeah, but talking about you is easier right now."
"What is it? What's going on?"
She leaned forward and whispered to Emma. "Remember when you told me to stay away from David and I agreed?"
"Yes." she whispered.
"I didn't."
"Yeah. I know."
"You do? How?" she said surprised.
"Because I'm sherif and you are a lovesick school teacher. Covering your tracks is not exactly your strong suit." she chuckled.
"Well, I've been discree........ Discreet." she said louder.
"Two tea cups in the sink. New perfume. Late nights, plunging neck lines.........."
Mary Margaret looked down at her shirt.
"........... It was not hard to connect the dots."
"Plunging?"
"When I met you, you were a top button kind of girl."
"Oh..... Why didn't you say anything?"
"I'm not your mother."
"No. According to Henry, I'm yours."
"I just figured that you would let me know when it was time. I'm assuming it's time?"
She looked up at Emma. "He's telling Kathryn."
"Everything?"
"Everything."

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Kathryn sat at her laptop, researching.
"David. David, come take a look. I found a whole bunch of great apartment options." she called.
David walked into the living room.
"I have no idea which neighbourhood to look at, but...... Have you ever been to Boston?"
"No. No, I've never been." he said looking at the laptop.
"Maybe we should ask the sherif, Emma, she's from there. She could probably..........."
"Kathryn."
She looked up at David.
"I can't go to Boston with you."
"Can't or won't?" she said after a moment.
"I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry." he knelt down on the floor. ""I don't know what to say."
"Try the truth." she looked at him.
He looked up into her face.
"David, is there something going on that I don't know about?"
"No."
She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms.
"I don't know. Something happened." he stood up and pased the room. "I don't know what it is. There is something that's preventing me from connecting. And it's not fair to you to let that screw up your life."
She looked up at him.
"You're right. You need a fresh start........ Just not with me."
Kathryn sighed and put her face in her hands. Tears filled up in her eyes.