Happily Ever After

Chapter 10: Valentines

"Oh, you got the book." Mary Margeret said, looking across the diner towards David.

"Yeah. Just started it. Can't wait to see how it ends."

"I can push the tables together if you guys.." Ruby started, pausing to fill Mary Margeret's mug with fresh coffee.

"Oh no. We're not together." The two said.

"Hey, David." Emma said, sitting down at Mary Margeret's table." Mary Margeret. So how's your day going?"

"Henry is fine." She said in an attempt to change the subject.

"That's not what I asked you."Mary Margaret muttered.

"You sure?"

Mary Margeret nodded. "Mhm. Just his normal, bubbly self. Don't worry, Regina won't keep you separated forever. If people are supposed to be together, they find a way."

"Ok. Normal self. So he's fine...happy."

Mary Margeret nodded."Yes. Well, no, he misses you. A lot. Trust me. I mean, take it from someone who's with him 6 hours a day, for five days a week."

"Six hours? You take newborns?" Ashley joked. "I'd love 6 hours off."

"Ashley! I didn't even recognize you. How's it going?"

"Eh. It's going. Baby's doing great, but we haven't had time to do the whole getting married thing, so that's been rough, and Shawne's working double shifts at the cannery. He has to work on Valentine's Day, though; he couldn't get out of it."

"That sucks."

Ruby dropped by the table, passing Ashley a coffee. "Doesn't have to. Not with me. Let's have a girl's night. We can all go! Mary Margeret, Anya, Emma; leaving the badge at home."

"I'm not really in the party mood. But you all can go and have fun. Station, something's up. I'll catch you later." Emma picked up her phone again and raced outside. It turns out it was just Gold sneaking suspiciously into a house. "This was a robbery—a public menace. And if you don't tell me what you know, I will have to arrest you for obstruction of justice. And I got a feeling you don't want to be behind bars."

"Indeed not. Jonah French. He sells flowers. A short time ago, we had a little disagreement."

"I'll look into him," Emma said.

"See that you do. Let's just say bad things tend to happen to good people."

"Is that a threat?" Emma questioned.

"Observation. Good luck, Miss Swan." He waited for a call from Emma. No sooner than he did, he met her at the station.

"You're right. The man ripped you off. All still in his place." Emma said, sitting down. "Closing in on him."

"So, the job was half done then," Gold muttered.

"In less than a day, I got everything back. Is something wrong?"

"You recovered nothing." Gold threw back. "Something is missing."

"I'll get it when I find it."

"Not if I find it first." It must have been something big that Emma hadn't gotten. Something extremely important to which caused Gold to storm out of there, real quick-like. Then again, Gold was a pretty twisted man in general, Emma had to admit.

That night Ruby, Anya, Ashley, and Mary Margeret went out like planned. "mmm." Ashley muttered, placing the shot glass down after taking a sip.

"Pace yourself, Ashley." Mary Margeret said, trying not to laugh.