Who: Mary Margaret Blanchard and David Nolan What: A First Date When: Backdated: End of September Where: Santa Monica Pier Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Part of Mary Margaret still couldn’t quite believe that David was back. It had been just over a month now since he had come back and there was a part of her that kept expecting it to be a dream. Considering the nature of their dreams and the things that happened as a result of them, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities. However, it appeared that it was real and that David wasn’t going anywhere, much to Mary Margaret’s delight.
At the same time, it was because of the strange things that happened in and out of the dreams that had caused Mary Margaret to ask David out instead of waiting. It would be just their luck for something to happen if she waited.
“So, what have you been doing since you came back?” She asked as they walked down the Santa Monica Pier, towards the attractions.
It was pretty nice, actually, David thought. Nothing all that fancy, nothing to get in the way of them just getting familiar with one another again. He smiled as he walked alongside her, slipping her hand into his. That was pretty nice, too.
“Not a lot. Just settling into the new job and the new place. It’s good to be back on a police force. All that sheriffing in the dreams really made me miss it. Not that I didn’t like the animal shelter, but, you know.” He shrugged and laughed. “Trying to work up the courage to ask you out, but you beat me to it.”
Mary Margaret smiled as David took her hand and she gave it a light squeeze, “I’m glad you’re doing what makes you happy. And I’d be lying if I said that you didn’t look good with a holster.” It probably sounded extremely dumb, but she couldn’t help it, “I would have waited and let you do it, but I kept thinking that something crazy was going to happen and we’d lose our chance somehow.” And that was the last thing Mary Margaret wanted with this second chance.
“Our track record definitely suggests that something would happen. Anyway, I always liked your forwardness,” he teased. He gave her a gentle nudge with his elbow and laughed. “What about you? What have you been up to, how’s the shelter? I feel like a thousand things have happened since I left.”
“I was worried it might make you feel less manly, but I had to do it.” She couldn’t help but tease him a little. Some guys would act as if their masculinity were in question or something equally as ridiculous if a woman asked them out first, but David wasn’t like that, which made it easier. “The shelter is good. As you saw, I have a new assistant, which leaves me much more time to myself, which I was lacking when you were here last. I’ve also been spending time with Emma and Neal and the kids. And of course, dealing with whatever the OC throws at us.”
David’s thumb ran over Mary Margaret’s hand and he laughed again. It sounded like a typical time in Orange County, if nothing else. “I’m excited to get to know them all better. I know that Emma’s not our daughter here, but I feel guilty for being out of her life again. If that makes any sense. If it sounds stupid, don’t tell me, though.” He looked down, hiding his somewhat embarrassed smile. “Wait. And Regina and Hook are … A thing?”
Mary Margaret completely understood exactly what David was talking about, “Oh, I get it. I really do. For me, I have all the motherly feelings towards her, which was strange at first and I thought she would be freaked out if she knew it, but now we have an odd mother daughter relationship despite not actually being related.” And it could have been because she missed her Neal, but she felt very grandmotherly towards Henry and Nico.
At David’s question, she couldn’t help but laugh a little, “They are. It was a little weird at first, considering Emma and Hook, in the dreams, but they seem good together. Good for each other.”
“I would one hundred percent prefer Hook spends his time fawning over Regina than Emma.” David raised his eyebrows, but he still looked amused. Maybe later in the dreams he’d get used to Hook, but as far as he saw it now, he was not the pirate’s biggest fan, and, yeah, he had all of these protective qualities for Emma that just sort of bled over. “Though it’ll take some getting used to.”
Mary Margaret couldn’t help but smirk a little at David’s comment about Hook considering that he and David actually became pretty good friends over time. “I’m happy that Regina is happy and this time if anything does happen to go wrong I can guarantee it won’t be my fault.” As far as she knew there was no one that couldn’t know about Regina and Killian’s relationship for Mary Margaret to accidentally tell. At least no one who would then try and kill Killian.
That got a laugh, a good one. David turned his head to bump his nose against Mary Margaret’s head in an affectionate gesture. “I think we’re all pretty happy when Regina’s happy. Even if she’s not quite so evil this time around. And your bad secret keeping is endearing.”
When they reached the pier, David pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her. “Come on. I think we need a selfie to commemorate our first date without any weirdness.”
“You say that now because I don’t know any of your secrets that I could possibly blab to anyone at the wrong time,” Not that she thought David had any secrets that he would try to kill her for. “Selfies, huh? I think I can do that.” Reaching into her pocket for her phone, she typed in her code and brought up the camera then wrapped her free arm around David’s neck as she held the phone out, centering it so that they were both in the frame, “Are we saying cheese?”
“I don’t really have any secrets. Thankfully.” Cue a grin as David wrapped an arm around Mary Margaret, hugging her close for the photo. “Sure, why not? Cheese!” Though the picture is more laughing than actually smiling, as far as David goes. But they do make a good pair. “You need to send that to me. Our first picture together.”
Mary Margaret smiled as she looked at the picture then up at David, “I definitely will. Maybe I’ll even post it on Facebook.” Mary Margaret had never been one to post too many personal things on the internet aside from her posts on Valarnet, but this was a little different. This was fate, as far as she was concerned and there was a part of her that wanted to let everyone know how happy she was at the moment.