Chapter 1

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Marvin had worked as the school janitor for as long as he could remember. It was how he had met Mary Margaret. She had volunteered to stay and help him after one of her students had knocked over his trolley. They had instantly begun a friendship, with many similar interests. They both also loved to help others, and often went together to various soup kitchens and working bees around Storybrooke.

Another thing they had in common was frequent visits to the hospital. Mary Margaret volunteered there all the time, but Marvin knew it was because she liked the guy ‘John Doe’ who slept there in a coma. He always caught her looking at him, and eventually he had approached her about it. She confessed to him, saying that while she took an interest in him and found him attractive, only liked him in a way that was purely curiosity, not love. He was the only person she had ever told.

Marvin visited the hospital for a different reason. He went to see Arthur. Arthur had been hospitalised a little over a year ago, after a drunken night had left him dying in a side street, with a dagger wound below his ribcage. He had been there for 2 hours before the ambulance found him. Even after countless stitches, it was estimated to be at least 18 months before he could leave the hospital. Arthur never remembered what happened during the night of the injury.

Today, as Marvin entered the hospital, he was in high spirits. Arthur was due to leave today! Dr Whale said so last week, after many complications had delayed the release for the last month. As Marvin entered the west wing, he passed Mary Margaret. “Hey, Marvin!” she said. “Today’s the day Arthur gets out of here, right?” Marvin was always impressed by her amazing memory of dates and events. “Yeah, that’s today.” “Good luck then!” she declared, before sidestepping him on her way to the east wing. Marvin smiled, before he went into the first door on the right.

“Hey Marvin.” Arthur said, as he saw him walk into the room. Marvin walked in, and Arthur sat up from his bed. Ouch, he thought. While he was technically fine, he still had a lot of aches and pains from very rigorous recovery. Marvin sat down by the bed, and Arthur reached over and pulled out a twig from his shadowy brown hair. “Been playing at the orphanage again?”  Marvin volunteered most weekends at Storybrooke orphanage, playing with the kids and helping them with chores around the place. It was how they had met, 7 years ago.  Arthur could still remember the clothes he’d worn that day. A blue shirt, covered by a brown jumper and a burgundy scarf. Marvin loved his scarf. They’d become friends throughout the day, and over the next few weeks, had organised ‘dates’ at the orphanage, where they’d spend time together while also serving a worthwhile cause.

Not long after, Arthur had asked Merlin out on a real date. Yup, Arthur was gay. So was; Arthur found out, Marvin. Marvin accepted the date, and they’d met at Granny’s Diner the following day. Arthur had never been so nervous in his life. But everything had turned out pretty well. Marvin and Arthur dated for a further few weeks before Arthurs accident occurred. Looking back, Arthur was so glad that it had happened, because Marvin had visited him every day, often bringing his friend, Mary Margaret to visit him also. Arthur had never felt so loved.

So today, Arthur was determined to leave. He’d had… troubles leaving before. Wounds reopened overnight, he felt too weak. “Ready to leave, clotpole?” Marvin’s voice pierced Arthur’s thoughts.  “As much as I’ll ever be” Arthur swung his legs off the bed, and reached for his crutches. One of the many restrictions that Arthur would need in the coming months of recovery. “So what’s news?” Arthur asked, as they strolled through the hospital, for the last time. “Not much”, Marvin said. “But you know Mayor Mills? She adopted a son this morning.” “What’s his name?” Arthur asked. “Henry.” Marvin answered. “Henry Mills”

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