To The Man Who Let Her Go

7

Mary Margaret was sitting on her bed grading papers when she heard a knock at her door. Perplexed at an unexpected visitor she got up to answer the door.

"Emma?"

The blonde smiled, "Hey. I was wondering if that room was still available?"

Mary Margaret gave a small smile, "Of course."

She stepped aside and welcomed Emma into her home, "Uh, there's a loft upstairs with everything you'll need."

Emma smiled and nodded as she headed upstairs.

"Can I help get the rest of your stuff," Mary Margaret asked as she looked out the door.

"This is it," the blonde said lifting her suitcase in the air.

Mary Margaret was confused, "Is the rest of it in Boston?"

Emma shook her head, "No."

"You've managed to pack all your belongings in a suitcase?" The brunette inquired as Emma jogged to put her suitcase on the bed and jogged back down.

"Well when you don't have a home you learn to pack light," Emma said nonchalantly, "Especially going and leaving from so many foster and group homes. You just don't need much anyway. It makes moving harder and that's if nobody's had the chance to steal your stuff."

"That's awful," Mary Margaret said truly saddened.

Emma shrugged as she sat on the couch and faced Mary Margaret, "It's my normal. It's what I'm used to. No big deal."

"But everyone should have a home," she replied setting the papers down and facing Emma.

"Yeah I thought so too. But it's really not all that bad. When you're alone you can't disappoint anyone and they can't disappoint you. And that's an upgrade from my childhood, where my parents never failed to disappoint me," Emma divulged.

"I'm sure they loved you," Mary Margaret assured.

"If they loved me they would've kept me," the blonde revealed.

Ms. Blanchard pouted at this fact, "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"No, no. It's fine. I can't believe I actually even said that. I'm not usually so open," Emma said shaking her head and reevaluating her choice of words, "You just seem kinda familiar."

"Honestly, I know what you mean. It seems like I should know you," the brunette divulged.

Emma smiled "Would explain why you offered me a place to stay without even knowing me."

The teacher shrugged, "I trust you."

"Well that's a first," Emma laughed.

"Why's that?"

"I've got a complicated past," Emma said with a shrug, "Maybe I'll tell you later."

"I'd like that," Mary-Margaret said with a small smile, "Can I ask what's going on between you and the mayor?"

Emma chuckled, "Well you get straight to it don't you?"

"Well we are living together now. I'm bound to find out evetually. Might as well make it now," she joked.

Emma cracked a grin, "Where do I start with Regina? Honestly I don't know. The few dates we've had honestly were just like for fun. I wasn't really expecting to stay here but now that I am I don't really know what's going on between us."

"I'm sure Henry's thrilled. His adoptive mom with his biological mom," Mary Margaret said with a shimmy of her shoudlers.

Emma gave a humorous side eye as she crossed her arms, "He's not thrilled with the idea."

"What why not?"

Emma took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Per his story book fantasy he thinks Regina is the Evil Queen out to get me."

"Awww yes that story book. It has caused a lot of problems since I've found it," Mary Margaret said.

"You gave Henry the book?"

Mary Margaret nodded, "He needed it. He needed hope and what better to do that than fairytales?"

"I guess," Emma said, "Who does he think you are?"

Ms. Blanchard laughed, "It's silly."

"Can't be much worse than being the Evil Queen," Emma pointed out.

"Well considering he thinks I'm the step-daughter she tried to poison, I don't think it's that much better," she joked.

"He thinks your Snow White?" Emma laughed, "Boy is that crazy."

Mary Margaret cocked her head, "Why's that?"

"On the drive from Boston he tried explaining his theory to me and apparently he thinks I'm the product of true love. And the truest love there is in that book is between Snow White and Prince Charming," Emma informed.

"So your supposed to be my daughter?"

Emma nodded as she laughed.

Mary Margaret laughed with her, "If I was married I might not find it so funny but I can't even remember my last relationship. I wonder who he thinks Prince Charming is?"

"Me too. I'd like to meet my dad," Emma joked.

"How does he explain the fact that we're the same age?" Mary Margaret asked.

Emma shrugged, "Haven't dove that deep yet. Probably something to do with Regina's curse," she added with a laugh.

A smile formed on the teachers face, "Well curse or no curse I'm glad Henry found you. He's so much happier and our town could use some fresh new faces."

She began to gather her papers and head for bed, "Goodnight Emma. I hope you grow to love Storybrooke as much as I do, especially since you have a home now."

Emma gave a shy smile as she too headed to bed, "Goodnight Mary Margaret."

As the blonde walked upstairs her heart thumped in her chest and a warm feeling spread through it. She had a home. Something she never thought she'd ever have...