Finding You Always

Turning Tables

Finding You Always

Chapter 10: Turning Tables

"I quit!" Ruby snapped, as she tossed her apron on the floor in the middle of breakfast service.

It had been a week with no lead on Dr. Whale's whereabouts and tonight was the big debate between David and Sidney. Then the people would cast their votes that very evening.

It seemed though that the tension between Granny and Ruby that had been building the past week had finally boiled over.

Ruby huffed and sat down beside Mary Margaret, who sat across from David and Emma. It had become a routine for them. Mary Margaret would almost always meet them for breakfast now and then take Emma to school with her. Then most nights, David and Emma would go to her place for dinner. They were the talk of the town, of course. Not much happened in Storybrooke, so the handsome new Sheriff spending so much time with pretty, but reserved Mary Margaret Blanchard was gossip gold.

She received glares from a few women, namely Zelda, whom she was sure was jealous and Regina, of course, whom just seemed to hate her.

But she received genuine smiles from many, who seem glad to see her with someone wonderful. She noticed it was a little different for him. He was new in town, which made him mysterious to most and he was very handsome, so he garnered a lot of attention from the female population. He didn't seem to notice much and Mary Margaret felt lucky for that. Their relationship hadn't gone beyond casual dating, but he was completely devoted to her...and Emma of course.

"Ruby...are you sure about quitting?" David asked.

"Yes! I've had it with this place," Ruby replied.

"What are you going to do?" Mary Margaret asked.

"I don't know, but I'll find something that isn't here," Ruby said, as she stormed out. Mary Margaret looked worried for friend, but David put his hand on hers.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," he assured. She smiled and squeezed his hand.

"I should probably get to the station," he mentioned.

"Yeah, we should get to school," Mary Margaret added. David paid the check and then knelt beside Emma, zipping her coat up and they stepped outside the diner.

"Have a good day at school, princess," he said, as he helped her into Mary Margaret's station wagon.

"I'll see you tonight...at the debate," he said hopefully. She smiled and kissed him.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied, as she got in and drove off.

David got to the station a few minutes later and took his jacket off. He sat down at his desk and started listening to the messages. Most of it was minor and he opened one of his drawers, finding both Emma's file from social services and the file Graham had given him on Albert Spencer's possible dealings. He hadn't had time to look at either yet, with Graham's death and Whale's disappearance. Since there were no major calls, he decided to take the time. He half expected Jason to call him to come pick up a drunk and disorderly Leroy, as he had done so three times last week, but it seemed Leroy had behaved last night, as there were no calls.

He took a breath and opened Emma's file. He looked at the first page with fascination. After they were found, he had been told a DNA test was done. He guessed that this had led to the state drawing up a legal birth certificate for her for the state of Maine. He was listed as the father, though most of the information for him was incomplete. It was strange that it seemed they hadn't found any information on him at all.

He turned to the next page and took a sharp intake of breath, as he saw adoption papers. A Mister and Misses Nathan and Linda Swan had adopted Emma when she was a year old and then sent her back when she was four, because they managed to have their own children. He was confused and horrified that two people could just send her back like they didn't care. He shook his head and kept reading, his heart sinking more and more as he did.