Buried Treasure

Chapter One: Roaming Butterflies

The day had finally arrived: Emma's birthday. Mary Margaret was so excited, she couldn't sleep… Emma's 29th birthday… finally, Mary Margaret could celebrate a birthday with her daughter.

It was just after six in the morning. For an hour now, Mary Margaret had been sitting in bed with a large notepad in her lap. Everything was planned out on paper.

Mary Margaret looked to her husband. She bit her lip as she struggled with the thought of waking him up. She wanted to allow him to continue resting; he'd been rising early most everyday to help Emma with the station, but she couldn't help herself. Mary Margaret was filled with excitement and overactive nerves. She had to make sure everything was set to go.

"David," Mary Margaret whispered while poking his back with the eraser on her pencil. "David… wake up… please."

The man groaned while rolling away from her.

Mary Margaret frowned, her brows knit in concentration. She put the notepad aside and got on her knees. With her hands on his side, she peered over his body to find his face. Her frown furthered. "David," she sang.

"Go to sleep," he grumbled.

Mary Margaret took the challenge. She put her lips to his face, kissing his cheek and along his jaw line. David rolled to his back, a slow smile creeping to his face as he opened his eyes just enough to see her.

"Oh, good, you're up," Mary Margaret said while plopping back to her side. "What time did you tell everyone to be here?"

"Hey, you tricked me," he accused with a frown.

"Yes, well, you wouldn't wake up."

"That's because it's-" David looked to the nightstand to check the time, "Six a.m. Most people are sleeping right now."

"We're not most people. What time is Granny is bringing the food over? You wrapped Emma's present, right?"

Realizing he wouldn't be going back to sleep any time soon, David planted his hands on the mattress and used the leverage to sit up against the headboard.

"Granny is coming at eight thirty. She's bringing everything you could think of for breakfast. Everyone else will be here by nine, so we have plenty of time to put up the food and hang the decorations and blow up the balloons and everything else," he explained patiently.

Mary Margaret nodded while crossing the items from her list. "And the present?"

"Top shelf of the closet, hidden behind shoes boxes. It's all wrapped and ready to go."

"I hope she likes it," Mary Margaret said with uncertainty. "I know she won't remember it. She never laid eyes on it, but I hope she-"

"Snow," David interrupted gently. He found her eyes; saw the worry surrounding her blue orbs. "She'll love it. I have no doubt of that."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know you. I know Emma… she's more like you than you realize… she'll open it. She'll see it. We'll explain what it is and what it means and she'll be glad to have it. She'll appreciate it. Just like you would."

Mary Margaret tried to believe the words. She nodded, for the sake of her husband, but she held her uncertainties.

"It was a good idea, having everyone over for breakfast. Emma won't suspect a surprise party so early," David said, trying to coax her from her fears.

Mary Margaret nodded faintly.

David gave a sympathetic smile. He took Mary Margaret's hand and kissed along her knuckles. He met her eyes and said, "try not to worry so much."

"Can't help it… just glad Emma doesn't have this problem. She acts more like you, ready to run into anything, no matter the danger."

With a smile David said, "I remember you charging into trouble without much thought."

"There's always thought," she murmured. "If Emma gets butterflies in her tummy, she doesn't let it be known. Most often she's fearless. Like you… wish I could be that way."

"She shares many things with you, Snow. More than a chin, more than your blue eyes," she said with a soft smile. "She didn't think she was capable of being of mother. She had the same worries you did. But look at her now."

"She's a wonderful mother to Henry," Snow agreed.

"Yes. And you're an amazing mother to her."

Snow couldn't help a smile.

XOX

It was nearly nine a.m. Henry was used to waking early for school. He was up around eight, lying over the covers as his mom slept peacefully beside him. He held his mother's cell phone in his hand, waiting for the text. Emma was usually up early as well, but everything going on, she took a day off only every now and then, and slept it. She didn't pick her birthday on purpose. Henry picked it for her. He said he wanted to spend her birthday together, just the two of them, like it was last year. Emma figured there might be something else going on. She hoped not. She hated surprises. But she couldn't say no to her son's pleading face.

Meanwhile, downstairs, everyone was scrambling around with hushed whispers in the air.

David came up behind Snow and said, "that's the last of the balloons."

She nodded and looked around to everyone. "Ready?"

The small crowd nodded.

With that, Snow grabbed her cell and gave the okay.

Henry nearly jumped up in excitement when he received the message. Ready! With that he turned the t.v off and looked to Emma's sleeping form.

Operation Buried Treasure was about to commence.

TBC

Thoughts before you go? Chapter two coming before the weekend!