Finding You Always

Ruminations

Finding You Always

Chapter 6: Ruminations

"This is unbelievable!" Regina screamed, as she stormed into her vault. Nothing was right! In two days, there had been changes and she liked none of them. She had an ace up her sleeve though or so she thought to drive David and Mary Margaret apart. Her name was Kathryn Nolan...his wife. Or fake wife rather, but he wouldn't have known that. However, when she had shown up at Kathryn's this evening to invoke those false memories, she was unpleasantly surprised to learn that since Charming had never ended up inside Storybrooke after she cast the curse, the false memories were never planted and the fake papers didn't exist.

Sure, she could create fake marriage documents easily enough, but somewhere along the line when she wasn't paying attention in the last ten years, Kathryn and Jim, who was really Frederick, her true love, had found a way to each other. She had been so focused on Mary Margaret's misery that some had slipped by her attention. But how did she miss...this? It seemed impossible. The curse was flawlessly designed...until he showed up. Unless it wasn't him at all.

"Emma," she realized. The daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Just her presence at the school could have triggered Frederick to unknowingly find his way to Abigail. It seemed impossible, for she was just a child. But not just any child.

"Oh that twisted imp..." she cursed. She would confront Gold again later, but first she had to do something about Snow and Charming.

She smirked evilly, as a plan came to her and she opened her cabinet that contained what little magic she had brought with her to this world. Magic was tricky in this land and so she had one shot at this. She picked up a potion and poured it on one of the many hearts she owned. The potion would alter it so it would appear to be someone else's when it was tested. She just needed the right victim to establish motive. She closed the box and left her vault, after locking it up tightly.

Graham blinked his eyes, trying to fight a headache, as he drove on Storybrooke's back roads, on the outskirts of town. He didn't know what was wrong with him, but he had felt off all day. Suddenly, a wolf appeared in the middle of the road and he slammed on the breaks. For several moments, Graham simply stared into the wolf's eyes and it stared right back. Soon, he felt that familiar tingle in his chest and he knew it meant Regina needed him. He got out of the car and the wolf sat on its haunches still staring at him, before running into the woods. His head was killing him and flashes of memories assaulted him. And for the second time ever, he disobeyed Regina and followed the wolf...

"I'm sure it's not that big of a deal," David said, a little shy under their praise.

"It is. No one stands up to Albert Spencer, except Mayor Mills, maybe," Mary Margaret replied.

"She's right. He's scary and so is she. Between the two of them, they pretty much run this town," Ruby agreed.

"Well, maybe it's time for a change," David replied.

"It must be so exciting to do something that actually matters, instead of being stuck in a place like this," Ruby said with longing. David smiled.

"It's not exciting all the time. There is more paperwork than you can imagine," he said.

"Hot chocolates are up, Ruby!" Granny called. She retrieved them and set them down.

"Thanks Ruby," Mary Margaret said.

"Ruby...you have other tables," Granny said. Ruby huffed in annoyance and left them. David continued to listen to Mary Margaret talk about teaching and it was clear to him how much she loved it. He liked the way she lit up when talking about the children and Emma had taken to her really well, which was no surprise.